Asser International Sports Law Blog - International Sports Law PublicationsOur International Sports Law Diary <br/>The <a href="http://www.sportslaw.nl" target="_blank">Asser International Sports Law Centre</a> is part of the <a href="https://www.asser.nl/" target="_blank"><img src="/sportslaw/blog/media/logo_asser_horizontal.jpg" style="vertical-align: bottom; margin-left: 7px;width: 140px" alt="T.M.C. Asser Instituut" /></a>http://www.asser.nl/SportsLaw/Blog/
http://www.rssboard.org/rss-specificationBlogEngine.NET 2.9.1.0en-UShttp://www.asser.nl/SportsLaw/Blog/opml.axdhttp://www.dotnetblogengine.net/syndication.axdAsser International Sports Law CentreAsser International Sports Law Blog0.0000000.000000How Data Protection Crystallises Key Legal Challenges in Anti-Doping - By Marjolaine Viret<p><b>Editor's Note</b>: Marjolaine is a researcher and attorney admitted to the Geneva bar (Switzerland) who specialises in sports and life sciences. Her interests focus on interdisciplinary approaches as a way of designing effective solutions in the field of anti-doping and other science-based domains. Her book “<a href="https://www.springer.com/us/book/9789462650831">Evidence in Anti-Doping at the Intersection of Science &amp; Law</a>” was published through T.M.C Asser Press / Springer in late 2015. She participates as a co-author on a project hosted by the University of Neuchâtel to produce the first article-by-article legal commentary of the 2021 World Anti-Doping Code. In her practice, she regularly advises international federations and other sports organisations on doping and other regulatory matters, in particular on aspects of scientific evidence, privacy or research regulation. She also has experience assisting clients in arbitration proceedings before the Court of Arbitration for Sport or other sport tribunals. <br></p><p><br></p><p class="MsoNormal" align="justify">Since the spectre of the EU General Data
Protection Regulation (‘GDPR’) has loomed over the sports sector,<a href="#_ftn1" name="_ftnref1" title="">[1]</a>
a new wind seems to be blowing on anti-doping, with a palpable growing interest
for stakes involved in data processing. Nothing that would quite qualify as a
wind of change yet, but a gentle breeze of awareness at the very least. </p>
<p class="MsoNormal" align="justify">Though the GDPR does mention the fight
against doping in sport as a potential matter of public health in its recitals,<a href="#_ftn2" name="_ftnref2" title="">[2]</a>
EU authorities have not gone so far as to create a standalone ground on which
anti-doping organisations could rely to legitimise their data processing.
Whether or not anti-doping organisations have a basis to process personal data –
and specifically sensitive data – as part of their anti-doping activities, thus
remains dependent on the peculiarities of each national law. Even anti-doping
organisations that are incorporated outside the EU are affected to the extent
they process data about athletes in the EU.<a href="#_ftn3" name="_ftnref3" title="">[3]</a>
This includes international sports federations, many of which are organised as private
associations under Swiss law. Moreover, the <a href="https://www.admin.ch/opc/en/classified-compilation/19920153/index.html">Swiss
Data Protection Act</a> (‘DPA’) is <a href="https://www.edoeb.admin.ch/edoeb/fr/home/protection-des-donnees/dokumentation/revisions-de-la-loi-federale-sur-la-protection-des-donnees--lpd-.html">currently
under review</a>, and the revised legal
framework should largely mirror the GDPR, subject to a few Swiss peculiarities.
All anti-doping organisations undertake at a minimum to abide by the WADA <a href="https://www.wada-ama.org/en/resources/data-protection/international-standard-for-the-protection-of-privacy-and-personal">International
Standard for Privacy and the Protection of Personal Information</a> (‘ISPPPI’),
which has been adapted with effect to 1 June 2018 and enshrines requirements
similar to those of the GDPR. However, the ISPPPI stops short of actually
referring to the GDPR and leaves discretion for anti-doping organisations to
adapt to other legislative environments. </p>
<p class="MsoNormal" align="justify">The purpose of this blog is not to offer a
detailed analysis of the requirements that anti-doping organisations must abide
by under data protection laws, but to highlight how issues around data
processing have come to crystallise key challenges that anti-doping
organisations face globally. Some of these challenges have been on the table since
the adoption of the first edition of the World Anti-Doping Code (‘WADC’) but
are now exposed in the unforgiving light of data protection requirements. </p><p class="MsoNormal" align="justify"><br></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" align="justify"><b><u>Who
is who and who does what?</u></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" align="justify">It is hardly a scoop for those familiar
with the World Anti-Doping Program to state that its structures are complex, relying
on an intricate network of private entities as well as public (or quasi-public)
agencies, each subject to their own applicable laws. The World Anti-Doping
Program has always struggled with reconciling its objectives of global harmonisation
with the sovereignty and diversity of national laws. National Anti-Doping
Organisations (‘NADO’s) operate at the national level; they are in charge of
doping issues across all sports in one country and are endowed with more or
less extensive enforcement powers depending on their country’s regulatory
approach to the sport sector. By contrast, international federations claim exclusive
governance over one sport worldwide, uniformly and without regard to national
borders but have to do so with the instruments available to private entities
based on contractual or similar tools of private autonomy. </p>
<p class="MsoNormal" align="justify">Over time, the WADC has been repeatedly updated
to strike a balance between the two (national <i>versus</i> international) spheres and avoid positive or negative
conflicts of competence. Provisions seek to clarify attributions in areas where
international- and national-level competences collide, such as roles in
Therapeutic Use Exemption (‘TUE’) management, testing authority, or results
management responsibilities.<a href="#_ftn4" name="_ftnref4" title="">[4]</a>
Even as it is, there is no safeguard to prevent disputes from arising about the
proper authority to investigate and initiate proceedings for doping.<a href="#_ftn5" name="_ftnref5" title="">[5]</a></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" align="justify">Data processing activities are not exempted
from the difficulties that accompany the complexity of anti-doping. If anything,
these difficulties are rather exacerbated by data protection laws. In
particular, the GDPR seeks to create a framework within which data subjects can
easily recognise when data is being processed about them, by whom and to what
aim(s), and whom to turn to in order to exercise their rights. This forces
anti-doping organisations to be precise and unambiguous about their respective
roles and attributions among themselves and chiefly towards the data subjects,
the athletes subject to doping control.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal" align="justify">The GDPR draws a distinction between two
major categories of entities that process personal data: an entity can be
characterised either as a data ‘controller’, or as a data ‘processor’. A
controller is defined as an entity which “<i>alone
or jointly with others, determines the purposes and means of the processing of
personal data</i>”. A processor is an entity “<i>which processes personal data on behalf of</i>” a controller.<a href="#_ftn6" name="_ftnref6" title="">[6]</a>
</p>
<p class="MsoNormal" align="justify">The distinction may seem rather
straightforward at first sight: the controller has a personal or commercial interest
in the data processing and decides which data to collect, from whom, and
through what means. At the other end of the spectrum, a ‘typical’ processor
receives documented instructions from a controller and merely implements these
instructions with no autonomy of decision or an autonomy limited to technical issues
and logistics. However, interrelationships are often much more subtle in
reality with considerable room for borderline situations: multiple controllers may
need to agree on their (joint) controllership of the data while operating alongside
entities that may act in part as processors, in part as controllers of their
own right for different aspects of the data processing.<a href="#_ftn7" name="_ftnref7" title="">[7]</a></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" align="justify">In anti-doping, more than half a dozen
entities may be involved in a routine doping control activity, between test planning
and the outcome of a disciplinary process. All of these will either collect or
gain access to athlete data, including sensitive data, as illustrated by the
following: an international federation decides to conduct blood testing on an
athlete from its registered testing pool but delegates sample collection to the
NADO of the country in which the athlete is currently residing. To do so, the
NADO has access to the athlete’s whereabouts filings through the ADAMS database,
managed by the World Anti-Doping Agency (‘WADA’). The NADO itself carries out
sample collection through a private service provider with its dedicated blood
control officers and decides to use the opportunity to order, in addition, the
collection of urine samples from the athlete. Upon sampling, the athlete is
asked to fill in the doping control form in front of the doping control
personnel, which includes disclosing several ongoing medication courses in the
dedicated box. Samples are then transported, in a de-identified (‘coded’) form,
by private courier from the country of collection to the international
federation’s usual WADA-accredited laboratory in a different country. </p>
<p class="MsoNormal" align="justify">Assuming the laboratory reports an adverse
analytical finding in the blood sample, the international federation requests a
full documentation package from the laboratory and verifies whether a Therapeutic
Use Exemption on the record could be related to the adverse analytical finding.
Upon notification of the results and public announcement of the immediate
provisional suspension, the athlete requests the analysis of the B sample,
thereby <i>de facto</i> lifting the code on
the A sample where the laboratory is concerned. The athlete submits a series of
explanations regarding the possible causes for the adverse analytical finding, including
a report from his treating physician regarding a medical condition that might
account for the findings. The international federation may send the laboratory
documentation package and athlete explanations to external experts for
additional input and then hands over the file to its external anti-doping
tribunal members. Most data will at some point have to pass through the ADAMS
database and be stored within that database for up to ten years. However, it may
also be communicated by other (electronic or physical) means among anti-doping
organisations and their service providers and experts. </p>
<p class="MsoNormal" align="justify">Once the disciplinary decision is issued, its
main elements are publicly disclosed by the international federation on its
website, and the decision shared with WADA and any NADO having jurisdiction
over the athlete. The NADO further decides to send the negative urine sample
for long-term storage and possible reanalysis to the WADA-accredited laboratory
that provides its storage facilities.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal" align="justify">The above description represents an imaginary
but ultimately rather standard situation for anti-doping organisations. It does
not seem too far-fetched to identify that the international federation at the
very least acts as a controller of the athlete data processed. However, a NADO
who receives instructions to collect samples and also decides to collect
additional data (and additional biological materials) on its own and for its
own purposes, potentially acts as both a processor and controller depending on
the data at stake. A number of processors and sub-processors are involved in
the process as service providers, while the qualification of external experts
may have to be assessed on a case-by-case basis. WADA offers the ADAMS database
as an IT infrastructure for data storage and sharing for the international federation
and NADO but also uses the data to fulfil its own obligations and purposes
under the WADC, such as exercising its appeal rights or verifying compliance of
the anti-doping organisations with their duties. Arguably, at the very least
there will be three controllers of data (international federation, NADO, and
WADA) in addition to multiple processors and sub-processors. </p>
<p class="MsoNormal" align="justify">Characterising the role of each entity as a
‘controller’ or as a ‘processor’ is far from being of academic interest only. The
two types of entities have distinct responsibilities and requirements for
lawful processing. Appropriate contractual arrangements need to be set up among
the entities involved, and data subjects must be informed of these in a
comprehensible manner allowing them to exercise their rights. Controllers have
primary responsibility for dealing with data subject requests and responding to
supervisory authorities and have a more extensive scope of liability across the
entire scope of data processing. By contrast, processors are, in essence, only
liable for their own processing activities and merely undertake to support the
controllers in their obligations towards data subjects and authorities.<a href="#_ftn8" name="_ftnref8" title="">[8]</a></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" align="justify">There is one other important difference that
carries special significance in the context of anti-doping: a processor who
acts under instructions can rely on the processing contract with the controller
responsible for the data as a lawful basis for processing.<a href="#_ftn9" name="_ftnref9" title="">[9]</a>
By contrast, if two or more parties qualify as controllers in their own right,
each controller needs to secure its individual lawful basis with respect to the
data subjects. The requirement of lawful processing is entwined with the discussion
around the validity of ‘consent’ to anti-doping regulations.</p><p class="MsoNormal" align="justify"><br></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" align="justify"><b><u>Lawful
basis and problematic character of consent</u></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" align="justify">Processing of personal data under the GDRP
requires a lawful basis. As relevant to our topic, three types of legitimising
grounds co-exist: i.) grounds rooted in private autonomy (consent or necessity
for performance of a contract with the data subject), ii.) grounds relying on
public interest or overriding interests of the controller (e.g. pursuing a
legal claim), or iii.) a specific basis in Union or national law, e.g. for
performance of a substantial public interest or public health task.<a href="#_ftn10" name="_ftnref10" title="">[10]</a>
Not all grounds enter into consideration for every category of data; special
categories of data – also known as ‘sensitive’ data under the DPA – have a more
limited number of valid processing grounds.<a href="#_ftn11" name="_ftnref11" title="">[11]</a>
Obviously, a major part of data processed as part of doping control qualifies
as sensitive data as it relates to health,<a href="#_ftn12" name="_ftnref12" title="">[12]</a>
including the data gathered through analysis of doping control samples or collected
as part of TUE applications.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal" align="justify">The traditional way for international
sports organisations to impose their rules on their ultimate addressees, i.e.,
the individual athletes, has been through contract, quasi-contractual chains of
submission, or other instruments involving a declaration of consent. The validity
of consent on the part of those who submit to anti-doping regulations is a
recurring matter for debate, in particular as its informed and voluntary
character is generally described at best as limited and more frequently as
purely illusory. The issue has been scrutinised in particular with respect to submission
to proceedings before the Court of Arbitration for Sport (‘CAS’),<a href="#_ftn13" name="_ftnref13" title="">[13]</a>
which the WADC imposes as a legal remedy in international doping disputes. While
acknowledging the ‘constrained’ nature of the athlete’s consent, the Swiss Supreme
Court accepts the validity of arbitration clauses in sports regulations in the
name of the needs for swift and competent resolution of sport disputes. It has,
however, imposed certain limits on the extent to which an athlete can entrust
their fate to the sports resolution system. As decided in the <i>Cañas v. ATP</i> case, an athlete cannot validly
waive in advance the right to challenge the CAS award in front of the Supreme
Court in disciplinary matters.<a href="#_ftn14" name="_ftnref14" title="">[14]</a>
In <i>Pechstein v. Switzerland</i>, the
European Court of Human Rights (‘ECtHR’) was asked to discuss the status of an
arbitration clause in the context of doping proceedings. It reached the same
conclusion that the only choice offered to the athlete was either to accept the
clause in order to be able to make a living by practising her sport at a
professional level or to refuse it and completely give up on practising at such
level. As a result of this restriction on the athlete’s professional life, it
was not possible to argue that she accepted the clause ‘in a free and unequivocal
manner’.<a href="#_ftn15" name="_ftnref15" title="">[15]</a></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" align="justify">In both cases, the findings were ultimately
of little consequence for the sports sector. The Swiss Supreme Court only
reviews CAS awards through an extremely narrow lens so that the power to set
strategic jurisprudence in sports matters remains with the CAS panels, whether
or not athletes retain their rights to challenge the award. Similarly, in the
Claudia Pechstein matter, the only shortcoming found in the ruling was the lack
of an option for a public hearing in CAS proceedings. Absence of genuine
consent has thus been – expressly or implicitly – compensated for by courts
through procedural safeguards, in an effort to ensure that athletes still
benefit overall from a system of justice broadly compliant with Article 6 of
the European Convention on Human Rights.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal" align="justify">Data protection issues create a greater
challenge here, since the GDPR explicitly requires consent to be ‘freely given’,
in addition to being informed.<a href="#_ftn16" name="_ftnref16" title="">[16]</a>
The same is true under the Swiss DPA.<a href="#_ftn17" name="_ftnref17" title="">[17]</a>
The GDPR does not accommodate compensatory mechanisms to account for the
‘fictional’ character of consent in the sports context: consent that is not
optional is not free, and consent that is not free is not valid. Importantly, free
consent also presupposes that consent can be withdrawn at any time as easily as
it was given and without significant detrimental consequences for the data
subject.<a href="#_ftn18" name="_ftnref18" title="">[18]</a> </p>
<p class="MsoNormal" align="justify">I will not delve here into how anti-doping
organisations can fulfil the requirement of ‘informed consent’, which as per
the GDPR requires “<i>intelligible and
easily accessible form, using clear and plain language</i>”.<a href="#_ftn19" name="_ftnref19" title="">[19]</a>
The template information notices (<a href="https://www.wada-ama.org/sites/default/files/resources/files/ADAMS_Athlete_Consent_Form_Doping_Control_Data_EN.pdf">here</a>
and <a href="https://www.wada-ama.org/sites/default/files/resources/files/dopingcontrolform_20181122_enfr.pdf">here</a>)
proposed by WADA currently in effect inform athletes, in essence, that their
data may be processed based on various legal grounds, may be accessed by
various entities around the world according to various data protections laws,
which may offer them various levels of protection, and that they may have
various rights and obligations under these laws. It is questionable whether explanations
in this form would satisfy the requirements for informed consent. Still, adequate
information appears at least achievable with appropriate and individualised
legal drafting supported by a data protection specialist. The question of free
consent is a much more delicate one since it is not in the hands of anti-doping
organisations to give athletes a genuine choice in this respect.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal" align="justify">In spite of the potential financial
implications, one could argue that consent is freely given where the athlete
can choose at any time to withdraw consent to data processing, with the sole
consequence of losing the benefit of the services attached to the ‘contractual’
relationship with their sports authorities, i.e. the right to participate in
sports competitions. This would, for example, suppose that an athlete notified
of a testing attempt could elect to either submit or instead declare immediate
retirement from sport without any further consequences. Under the current rules,
however, such withdrawal of consent would trigger disciplinary sanctions, which
may include ineligibility or fines depending on the sport, and in any event,
will have a significant impact on the athlete’s reputation. The templates
proposed by WADA explicitly warn athletes about these consequences, as well as
the fact that anti-doping organisations may retain and continue processing
their data in spite of any withdrawal (see <a href="https://www.wada-ama.org/sites/default/files/resources/files/dopingcontrolform_20181122_enfr.pdf">here</a>
and <a href="https://www.wada-ama.org/en/resources/adams/athlete-information-notice">here</a>).
In fact, the WADC provides that the results management and disciplinary process
may be initiated or may continue in spite of the athlete announcing their
retirement from sport.<a href="#_ftn20" name="_ftnref20" title="">[20]</a></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" align="justify">To this day, one is still awaiting a realistic
proposal that would allow consent to anti-doping regulations to be genuinely
freely given. Most stakeholders would agree that there is no viable manner of making
compliance with anti-doping rules optional for athletes without undermining the
very notion of a level playing field.<a href="#_ftn21" name="_ftnref21" title="">[21]</a>
Unlike the relatively benign implications that lack of genuine consent had for
the sport dispute resolution system so far, the impossibility of creating the prerequisites
for free consent to anti-doping regulations is far more consequential in the
data protection context. Indeed, it precludes reliance on consent as a reliable
lawful basis that can be used globally by international sports governing bodies
to secure the lawfulness of their data processing. This is the case unless
courts would be willing to go against the explicit wording of data protection
laws and tolerate ‘forced’ consent as a lawful basis in the context of sport.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal" align="justify">As the Swiss Federal Council noted in their
official communication on the Swiss Sport Act, the questionable validity of athlete
consent makes it necessary to create express legal provisions authorising
anti-doping organisations to collect and process personal data for anti-doping
purposes.<a href="#_ftn22" name="_ftnref22" title="">[22]</a> Under
the GDPR, processing sensitive data relying on an interest of substantial
public or public health interest equally requires a legal basis in EU or
relevant national law of a member state. Without intervention of national
lawmakers to recognise anti-doping as a matter of ‘substantial public interest’
or ‘public health’ interest and identify those entities that are entitled by
law to process data together with an appropriate description of the admissible scope
and purposes for such processing, sports organisations will continue to rest on
shaky ground when it comes to data processing and in particular processing of
sensitive data.</p><p class="MsoNormal" align="justify"><br></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" align="justify"><b><u>Proportionality
of treatment</u></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" align="justify">The issue of proportionality is relevant for
almost any component of an anti-doping system. It is recognised by CAS panels
and courts as an internationally accepted standard,<a href="#_ftn23" name="_ftnref23" title="">[23]</a>
as part of the assessment for deciding whether an encroachment upon individual
freedoms is justifiable and justified in any given case. Proportionality is
frequently debated in connection with the severity of the disciplinary sanctions
set forth in the WADC,<a href="#_ftn24" name="_ftnref24" title="">[24]</a>
but it is also a test that every other aspect of the regulation must stand up
to.<a href="#_ftn25" name="_ftnref25" title="">[25]</a></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" align="justify">An important limb of the proportionality
test is the ‘necessity’ of a measure having regard to the rights affected. This
aspect was recently addressed by the European Court for Human Rights in the
context of French legislation on the whereabouts regime applicable to
professional athletes and its compatibility with privacy: “the general‑interest
considerations that make them necessary are particularly important and, in the
Court’s view, justify the restrictions on the applicants’ rights under Article
8 of the Convention. Reducing or removing the requirements of which the
applicants complain would be liable to increase the dangers of doping to their
health and that of the entire sporting community, and would run counter to the
European and international consensus on the need for unannounced testing.”<a href="#_ftn26" name="_ftnref26" title="">[26]</a> The ECtHR conducted its assessment with respect to the right
to privacy under Article 8 of the European Convention on Human Rights without
having regard to specific data protection provisions. </p>
<p class="MsoNormal" align="justify">The requirement of proportionality is a
pillar of data protection in all its aspects, from the decision to collect the
data to its retention. It is enshrined both in the GDPR and in the DPA<a href="#_ftn27" name="_ftnref27" title="">[27]</a>
and is notably also highlighted in the WADA ISPPPI.<a href="#_ftn28" name="_ftnref28" title="">[28]</a>
Concerns about proportionality of the anti-doping system were <a href="https://ec.europa.eu/newsroom/article29/item-detail.cfm?item_id=629492">expressed</a>
by EU data protection advisory authorities as early as 2008,<a href="#_ftn29" name="_ftnref29" title="">[29]</a>
and numerous exchanges with WADA have ensued.<a href="#_ftn30" name="_ftnref30" title="">[30]</a>
Various adjustments have been made to the ISPPPI since then with a significant
review to adapt the ISPPPI to the GDPR requirements, and a new set of <a href="https://www.wada-ama.org/en/resources/legal/guidelines-privacy-protection-guidelines">WADA
Guidelines</a> adopted in 2018. </p>
<p class="MsoNormal" align="justify">Still, the threats on proportionality are
bound to be ubiquitous in a context where standardisation is a guiding
principle of regulation. For example, the ISPPPI (Annex A) enshrines retention
times based on different categories of data (TUE, samples, whereabouts, etc.), but
with only two different retention periods overall: 18 months (newly being
reconsidered in the draft revised version as 12 months) or 10 years. These have
been criticised again in the ongoing stakeholder <a href="https://www.wada-ama.org/sites/default/files/resources/files/ispppi_commentsreceived_04122018.pdf">consultation
process</a> as being insufficiently differentiated to be adequate.<a href="#_ftn31" name="_ftnref31" title="">[31]</a>
Indeed, while a column in the Annex formally indicates for each category that the
retention time has been chosen based on “<i>necessity</i>”
or “<i>proportionality</i>” criteria, Annex
A states <i>in limine</i> that the
limitation to two retention periods is “<i>for
practical reasons</i>”. These justifications cannot be easily reconciled. To
properly account for proportionality, anti-doping organisations would need to
conduct their own assessment in a more individualised fashion, adapted to their
athlete pool and sport. However, as in many other domains of doping control, one
wonders how many of them will have the resources, competences and willingness
to look beyond WADA prescriptions. Also, since most of the data must be
processed through the ADAMS database managed by WADA, anti-doping organisations
may have limited effective power over the set-up of the data deletion process.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal" align="justify">The proportionality principle is also connected
to another fundamental requirement, which is that data processing must remain
within the ‘purpose’ defined (‘purpose limitation’ principle). The ISPPPI
contains a list of purposes for which anti-doping organisations may process
data. However, the ISPPPI gives anti-doping organisations an option to decide
to process data for other purposes related to the fight against doping,
provided they carry out a documented assessment. The WADA Guidelines propose a
template for ‘new purpose assessment’, and indicate that such new purpose could
encompass purposes that were not contemplated in the WADC nor perhaps could
even be envisaged at the time of collection. The <a href="https://www.wada-ama.org/sites/default/files/resources/files/ispppi_redline_draft2.0_december2018.pdf">draft
revised ISPPPI</a> seems to go even further down this line: “<i>In certain contexts, it may be appropriate
or necessary for Anti-Doping Organizations/WADA to Process Personal Information
for additional purposes, […] besides those already permitted or required by the
Code, the International Standard or expressly required by law, in order to
engage effectively in the fight against doping</i>”.<a href="#_ftn32" name="_ftnref32" title="">[32]</a>
It is unclear how this assessment is to be effectively implemented especially
for sensitive data, be it under the assumption of a consensual basis or of one
based on national law recognising substantial public interests for anti-doping
activities. In both cases, if the actual purposes for which the data may be
used are <i>in limbo</i> awaiting potential
reassessment for ‘new’ purposes, it is questionable whether informed consent or
a sufficiently predictable legal basis respectively could even be created.<a href="#_ftn33" name="_ftnref33" title="">[33]</a></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" align="justify">As the claims for more ‘evidence-based’
approaches and stronger monitoring of anti-doping programs grow louder, more
thought could be spent on proportionality and purpose limitation of data
processing in anti-doping. Most of the discussion so far has revolved around
the intrusiveness of the whereabouts requirements. Whereabouts information,
however, is only collected from a limited number of high-profile athletes
(i.e., those included within a registered testing pool) and is only a fraction
of the data collected as part of anti-doping programs. In the
<i>FNASS et al. v. France</i> ruling, the
ECtHR essentially relied on the pleas of the anti-doping movement and
governments to find that the fight against doping pursues a public health
interest and implements it in a proportionate way. In doing so, the ECtHR seems to perpetuate a tendency of CAS and other
courts to take policy documents and consensus statements - whether enshrined or
not in international law instruments such as the UNESCO Convention against
Doping in Sport - as proof of the reality of the claims they contain<a href="#_ftn34" name="_ftnref34" title="">[34]</a>
without requiring much supporting evidence. In many instances, this is
technically justified by placing on the contesting party the burden of
demonstrating any lack of proportionality.<a href="#_ftn35" name="_ftnref35" title="">[35]</a>
On a higher level, however, it tends to create a presumption that any doubt
must benefit the cause of anti-doping.<a href="#_ftn36" name="_ftnref36" title="">[36]</a>
This may lead to self-perpetuating policy biases based on circular reasoning by
justifying new measures through previous, unverified claims.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal" align="justify">Data protection laws, with their detailed requirements
and descriptions of data subject rights, may offer a foundation for a more
granular analysis than general human rights provisions under the undetermined heading
of ‘privacy’. Opportunities for legal analysis may still be hindered by the
fact that an argument related to data protection is hard to build into a
defence when athletes – or their counsel – would typically start seriously
thinking about these issues only once they become subject to investigations or
discipline for a potential breach of the anti-doping rules. CAS panels have
been rather generous in admitting evidence unlawfully obtained against
individuals charged in disciplinary proceedings.<a href="#_ftn37" name="_ftnref37" title="">[37]</a>
It could thus prove extremely difficult – perhaps even counter-productive as a
defence strategy – for an athlete to object to the admissibility of doping
control data obtained in breach of data protection laws, in particular when the
objection relates to a breach that leaves as much discretion to the panel as
proportionality of data collection or retention. CAS panels have repeatedly
recognised the fight against doping as an interest that overrides individual
freedoms without carrying out much of an individualised balance of the
interests at stake. <a href="#_ftn38" name="_ftnref38" title="">[38]</a> &nbsp;More promising impetus could come from a
random athlete seeking advice from supervisory authorities through the avenues
offered by his or her national data protection laws prior to exposure to a
positive test or other disciplinary action. Unfortunately, much like consumers,
athletes often seem to show little interest in their privacy until they are
confronted with some tangible detrimental consequences.</p><p class="MsoNormal" align="justify"><br></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" align="justify"><b><u>A
true plague or a real opportunity?</u></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" align="justify">Some may view recent developments in data
protection laws as just another headache for sports governing bodies and deplore
the advent of a new hurdle for anti-doping organisations who aspire to take
their tasks under the World Anti-Doping Program seriously. Anti-doping
organisations advocate that they are carrying out a mission of public interest.
As we have seen, this view has been supported by various bodies and courts
around the world and is also reflected in the UNESCO Convention against Doping
in Sport. However, the GDPR does not regard public interest as an absolute
basis for all data processing; in particular, sensitive data cannot be
processed on the sole basis of an alleged public interest unless such public
interest is substantial or related to public health, and its modalities are set
out in national or EU law. </p>
<p class="MsoNormal" align="justify">In a time where the credibility of existing
structures and procedures within anti-doping authorities is questioned, the
challenge arising from data protection standards can also be perceived as an
opportunity for the anti-doping system. The ISPPPI and related WADA Guidelines,
unfortunately, do not purport to provide solutions to the various crucial
challenge set out above but merely invite anti-doping organisations to act in
accordance with their applicable data protection laws. They give little guidance
on how this is to be achieved in the event that these laws conflict with their
duties under the WADC. </p>
<p class="MsoNormal" align="justify">Developments in data protection force
anti-doping organisations to look at their structures, legal status and their
relationships with other organisations within the system. These developments
should also have the effect of prompting national legislators to take measures
more supportive of anti-doping policies in this domain, and in particular by
making sure that sports governing bodies benefit from an appropriate legal
basis for processing data, including sensitive data. Given that the very
purpose of the WADC is to harmonise the regulation of doping in sport worldwide
and that this objective is routinely invoked to justify restrictions on athlete
rights, it would seem somewhat counterintuitive not to afford all athletes the
same level of protection where their data is concerned. If there is truly a
general international consensus on the legitimacy of the fight against doping
and this consensus is supported by the State parties to the UNESCO Convention, those
States, at a minimum, must be willing to give anti-doping organisations the
means to carry out their tasks in a legally sustainable manner, unless and
until these States are ready to engage in a fundamental overhaul of the current
system.</p>
<hr width="33%" size="1" align="justify">
<p id="ftn1" align="justify">
</p><p class="MsoFootnoteText" align="justify"><a href="#_ftnref1" name="_ftn1" title="">[1]</a> <a href="https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/?uri=CELEX%3A32016R0679">Regulation
(EU) 2016/679 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 27 April 2016</a>
on the protection of natural persons with regard to the processing of personal
data and on the free movement of such data. The GDPR started to apply on 25 May
2018. In theory, all entities conducting data processing activities within the
scope of the GDPR ought to have secured compliance as of this effective date.</p>
<p align="justify"></p>
<p id="ftn2" align="justify">
</p><p class="MsoFootnoteText" align="justify"><a href="#_ftnref2" name="_ftn2" title="">[2]</a> Recital 112 refers to requirements for cross-border data transfers
and provides: “Those derogations should in particular apply to data transfers
required and necessary […] for public health, for example […] in order to
reduce and/or eliminate doping in sport”.</p>
<p align="justify"></p>
<p id="ftn3" align="justify">
</p><p class="MsoFootnoteText" align="justify"><a href="#_ftnref3" name="_ftn3" title="">[3]</a> Article 3 para. 2 of the GDPR regarding territorial scope of
application.</p>
<p align="justify"></p>
<p id="ftn4" align="justify">
</p><p class="MsoFootnoteText" align="justify"><a href="#_ftnref4" name="_ftn4" title="">[4]</a> See Articles 4.4 of the WADC for TUEs, 5.2 for testing, and 7.1 for
results management.</p>
<p align="justify"></p>
<p id="ftn5" align="justify">
</p><p class="MsoFootnoteText" align="justify"><a href="#_ftnref5" name="_ftn5" title="">[5]</a> See e.g. CAS <a href="https://www.usada.org/wp-content/uploads/CAS-Award-Bruyneel-Celaya-Marti.pdf">2014/A/3598,
3599 &amp; 3618</a>, in which the authority of USADA to initiate proceedings
against Johan Bruyneel and others was challenged. </p>
<p align="justify"></p>
<p id="ftn6" align="justify">
</p><p class="MsoFootnoteText" align="justify"><a href="#_ftnref6" name="_ftn6" title="">[6]</a> Article 4 (Definitions) of the GDPR. Note that a processor within
the meaning of the GDPR may itself choose to delegate part of its activities to
a sub-processor, if and to the extent authorised by the controller.</p>
<p align="justify"></p>
<p id="ftn7" align="justify">
</p><p class="MsoFootnoteText" align="justify"><a href="#_ftnref7" name="_ftn7" title="">[7]</a> See the <a href="https://ico.org.uk/for-organisations/guide-to-data-protection/guide-to-the-general-data-protection-regulation-gdpr/controllers-and-processors/how-do-you-determine-whether-you-are-a-controller-or-processor/#2.">guidance
and examples</a> given by the UK Information Commissioner’s Office.</p>
<p align="justify"></p>
<p id="ftn8" align="justify">
</p><p class="MsoFootnoteText" align="justify"><a href="#_ftnref8" name="_ftn8" title="">[8]</a> See Chapter IV of the GDPR.</p>
<p align="justify"></p>
<p id="ftn9" align="justify">
</p><p class="MsoFootnoteText" align="justify"><a href="#_ftnref9" name="_ftn9" title="">[9]</a> Article 28 para. 3 of the GDPR.</p>
<p align="justify"></p>
<p id="ftn10" align="justify">
</p><p class="MsoFootnoteText" align="justify"><a href="#_ftnref10" name="_ftn10" title="">[10]</a> Article 6 of the GDPR.</p>
<p align="justify"></p>
<p id="ftn11" align="justify">
</p><p class="MsoFootnoteText" align="justify"><a href="#_ftnref11" name="_ftn11" title="">[11]</a> Article 9 of the GDPR.</p>
<p align="justify"></p>
<p id="ftn12" align="justify">
</p><p class="MsoFootnoteText" align="justify"><a href="#_ftnref12" name="_ftn12" title="">[12]</a> Article 9 para. 1 of the GDPR; Article 3 lit. c of the DPA.</p>
<p align="justify"></p>
<p id="ftn13" align="justify">
</p><p class="MsoFootnoteText" align="justify"><a href="#_ftnref13" name="_ftn13" title="">[13]</a> See e.g. Duval A (2017) <a href="https://papers.ssrn.com/sol3/papers.cfm?abstract_id=2920555">Not in My
Name! Claudia Pechstein and the Post-Consensual Foundations of the Court of
Arbitration for Sport</a>, Max Planck Institute for Comparative Public Law
&amp; International Law (MPIL) Research Paper No. 2017-01; Rigozzi A &amp;
Robert-Tissot F (2015) <a href="https://lk-k.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/10/RIGOZZI-ROBERT-TISSOT-in-ASA-Special-Series-41-Sports-Arb.-A-Coach-for-Other-Players-2015-Consent-in-Sports-Arb.-Its-Multiple-Aspects-pp.-59-94.pdf">"Consent"
in Sports Arbitration: Its Multiple Aspects</a>. In: Geisinger &amp;
Trabaldo-De Mestral (eds) Sports Arbitration: A Coach for Other Players? ASA
Series 41, Jurisnet NY, pp 59-95;</p>
<p align="justify"></p>
<p id="ftn14" align="justify">
</p><p class="MsoFootnoteText" align="justify"><a href="#_ftnref14" name="_ftn14" title="">[14]</a> Swiss Supreme Court Decision, <a href="https://law.marquette.edu/assets/sports-law/pdf/2012-conf-canas-english.pdf">4P.172/2006</a>,
22 March 2007. </p>
<p align="justify"></p>
<p id="ftn15" align="justify">
</p><p class="MsoFootnoteText" align="justify"><a href="#_ftnref15" name="_ftn15" title="">[15]</a> ECtHR Decision 22 October 2018, <i>Mutu
&amp; Pechstein v. Switzerland</i>, no 40575/10 et 67474/10, para. 114.</p>
<p align="justify"></p>
<p id="ftn16" align="justify">
</p><p class="MsoFootnoteText" align="justify"><a href="#_ftnref16" name="_ftn16" title="">[16]</a> Article 4 (Definitions) of the GDPR.</p>
<p align="justify"></p>
<p id="ftn17" align="justify">
</p><p class="MsoFootnoteText" align="justify"><a href="#_ftnref17" name="_ftn17" title="">[17]</a> Article 4 para. 5 of the DPA.</p>
<p align="justify"></p>
<p id="ftn18" align="justify">
</p><p class="MsoFootnoteText" align="justify"><a href="#_ftnref18" name="_ftn18" title="">[18]</a> Article 7 para. 3 of the GDPR.</p>
<p align="justify"></p>
<p id="ftn19" align="justify">
</p><p class="MsoFootnoteText" align="justify"><a href="#_ftnref19" name="_ftn19" title="">[19]</a> Article 7 para. 2 of the GDPR.</p>
<p align="justify"></p>
<p id="ftn20" align="justify">
</p><p class="MsoFootnoteText" align="justify"><a href="#_ftnref20" name="_ftn20" title="">[20]</a> Article 7.11 of the WADC.</p>
<p align="justify"></p>
<p id="ftn21" align="justify">
</p><p class="MsoFootnoteText" align="justify"><a href="#_ftnref21" name="_ftn21" title="">[21]</a> Though it is often debated to what extent exactly the performance
enhancing effect of individual prohibited substances and methods is
established. <a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6422964/">Heuberger
J, Cohen A (2018) Review of WADA Prohibited Substances: Limited Evidence for
Performance-Enhancing Effects. Sports
Med. 2019; 49(4): 525–539</a>.</p>
<p align="justify"></p>
<p id="ftn22" align="justify">
</p><p class="MsoFootnoteText" align="justify"><a href="#_ftnref22" name="_ftn22" title="">[22]</a> <a href="https://www.admin.ch/opc/fr/federal-gazette/2009/7401.pdf">Message du Conseil fédéral du 11
nov. 2009, FF 09.082</a>, pp 7450/7451&nbsp;: «&nbsp;Aujourd’hui, les contrôles antidopage
relevant du sport de droit privé reposent sur une déclaration de consentement
du sportif. Cette déclaration doit être librement consentie. Or, cette liberté
n’est pas garantie, dans la mesure où le refus de donner son consentement peut
entraîner l’exclusion de la manifestation ou la perte de la licence&nbsp;».</p>
<p align="justify"></p>
<p id="ftn23" align="justify">
</p><p class="MsoFootnoteText" align="justify"><a href="#_ftnref23" name="_ftn23" title="">[23]</a> CAS 2005/C/976 &amp; 986, <i>FIFA &amp; WADA</i>, para. 138&nbsp;; CJEU decision <a href="https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/?uri=CELEX%3A62004CJ0519"><i>Meca-Medina
&amp; Majcen v. Commission</i></a> (C-519/04).</p>
<p align="justify"></p>
<p id="ftn24" align="justify">
</p><p class="MsoFootnoteText" align="justify"><a href="#_ftnref24" name="_ftn24" title="">[24]</a> A recent example: CAS 2018/A/5546, <i>Guerrero v. FIFA</i>, CAS 2018/A/5571, <i>WADA v. FIFA &amp; Guerrero</i>, paras 85 <i>et seq</i>.; <a href="https://www.wada-ama.org/sites/default/files/resources/files/WADC-Legal-Opinion-on-Draft-2015-Code-3.0-EN.pdf">Legal
Opinion</a> by Jean-Paul Costa on the 2015 revision of the WADC.</p>
<p align="justify"></p>
<p id="ftn25" align="justify">
</p><p class="MsoFootnoteText" align="justify"><a href="#_ftnref25" name="_ftn25" title="">[25]</a> Viret (2016), Evidence in Anti-Doping at the Intersection of
Science &amp; Law, T.M.C Asser, p. 133; Since its 2015 version, the WADC has
included an explicit reference to proportionality as one of the key
considerations underlying its drafting. See introductory section “Purpose,
Scope and Organization of the World Anti-Doping Program and the Code”.</p>
<p align="justify"></p>
<p id="ftn26" align="justify">
</p><p class="MsoFootnoteText" align="justify"><a href="#_ftnref26" name="_ftn26" title="">[26]</a>ECtHR, FNASS et al. v. France (48151/11 and 77769/13), para. 191.</p>
<p align="justify"></p>
<p id="ftn27" align="justify">
</p><p class="MsoFootnoteText" align="justify"><a href="#_ftnref27" name="_ftn27" title="">[27]</a> Article 5(1)(c) of the GDPR, whereas the data must be “adequate,
relevant and limited to what is necessary in relation to the purposes for which
they are processed (‘data minimisation’)”.</p>
<p align="justify"></p>
<p id="ftn28" align="justify">
</p><p class="MsoFootnoteText" align="justify"><a href="#_ftnref28" name="_ftn28" title="">[28]</a> Section 5.0 ISPPI “Processing Relevant and Proportionate Personal
Information”.</p>
<p align="justify"></p>
<p id="ftn29" align="justify">
</p><p class="MsoFootnoteText" align="justify"><a href="#_ftnref29" name="_ftn29" title="">[29]</a> Art. 29 Working Party, now replaced by the European Data Protection
Board under the GDPR. </p>
<p align="justify"></p>
<p id="ftn30" align="justify">
</p><p class="MsoFootnoteText" align="justify"><a href="#_ftnref30" name="_ftn30" title="">[30]</a> See <a href="https://www.wada-ama.org/en/resources/search?f%5B0%5D=field_topic%3A126">collection
of legal documents</a> on WADA website.</p>
<p align="justify"></p>
<p id="ftn31" align="justify">
</p><p class="MsoFootnoteText" align="justify"><a href="#_ftnref31" name="_ftn31" title="">[31]</a> Comment to revised ISPPPI by NADA Germany, ad Annex Retention
Times.</p>
<p align="justify"></p>
<p id="ftn32" align="justify">
</p><p class="MsoFootnoteText" align="justify"><a href="#_ftnref32" name="_ftn32" title="">[32]</a> Comment ad Article 5.3(d) draft ISPPPI.</p>
<p align="justify"></p>
<p id="ftn33" align="justify">
</p><p class="MsoFootnoteText" align="justify"><a href="#_ftnref33" name="_ftn33" title="">[33]</a> The EU Commission <a href="https://ec.europa.eu/info/law/law-topic/data-protection/reform/rules-business-and-organisations/principles-gdpr/purpose-data-processing/can-we-use-data-another-purpose_en">warns</a>
that extension of purpose is not possible where processing was based on consent
or a provision of law without renewing the consent or creating a new legal
basis.</p>
<p align="justify"></p>
<p id="ftn34" align="justify">
</p><p class="MsoFootnoteText" align="justify"><a href="#_ftnref34" name="_ftn34" title="">[34]</a> See e.g. preamble of the UNESCO Convention “Concerned by the use of
doping by athletes in sport and the consequences thereof for their health, the
principle of fair play, the elimination of cheating and the future of sport”.</p>
<p align="justify"></p>
<p id="ftn35" align="justify">
</p><p class="MsoFootnoteText" align="justify"><a href="#_ftnref35" name="_ftn35" title="">[35]</a> See already in CJEU decision <a href="https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/?uri=CELEX%3A62004CJ0519"><i>Meca-Medina &amp; Majcen v. Commission</i></a>
(C-519/04) regarding the proportionality of threshold levels.</p>
<p align="justify"></p>
<p id="ftn36" align="justify">
</p><p class="MsoFootnoteText" align="justify"><a href="#_ftnref36" name="_ftn36" title="">[36]</a> <a href="https://tel.archives-ouvertes.fr/CRJ-EA14/hal-01767063v1">Maisonneuve Mathieu, La CEDH et les
obligations de localisation des sportifs&nbsp;: le doute profite à la
conventionnalité de la lutte contre le dopage</a>, note sous CEDH, 5<sup>e</sup>
sect., 18 January 2018, Fédération nationale des associations et des syndicats
sportifs (FNASS) et autres c. France, req. Nos 48151/11 et 77769/13. Journal
d’actualité des droits européenes, Centre de recherches et de documentation
européennes et internationales, 2018.</p>
<p align="justify"></p>
<p id="ftn37" align="justify">
</p><p class="MsoFootnoteText" align="justify"><a href="#_ftnref37" name="_ftn37" title="">[37]</a> CAS 2016/A/4487, <i>IAAF v. Melnikov</i>, para. 108.</p>
<p align="justify"></p>
<p id="ftn38" align="justify">
</p><p class="MsoFootnoteText" align="justify"><a href="#_ftnref38" name="_ftn38" title="">[38]</a> CAS 2009/A/1879, <i>Valverde v. CONI</i>, para. 139.</p>
<p></p>
<p></p>
http://www.asser.nl/SportsLaw/Blog/post/how-data-protection-crystallises-key-legal-challenges-in-anti-doping-by-marjolaine-viret
http://www.asser.nl/SportsLaw/Blog/post/how-data-protection-crystallises-key-legal-challenges-in-anti-doping-by-marjolaine-viret#commenthttp://www.asser.nl/SportsLaw/Blog/post.aspx?id=7b3edef8-689b-4326-a1a4-ec6ea1c2ad4bTue, 07 May 2019 15:05:00 +0200BlogInternational Sports Law CommentariesInternational Sports Law PublicationsAntoine Duvalhttp://www.asser.nl/SportsLaw/Blog/pingback.axdhttp://www.asser.nl/SportsLaw/Blog/post.aspx?id=7b3edef8-689b-4326-a1a4-ec6ea1c2ad4b0http://www.asser.nl/SportsLaw/Blog/trackback.axd?id=7b3edef8-689b-4326-a1a4-ec6ea1c2ad4bhttp://www.asser.nl/SportsLaw/Blog/post/how-data-protection-crystallises-key-legal-challenges-in-anti-doping-by-marjolaine-viret#commenthttp://www.asser.nl/SportsLaw/Blog/syndication.axd?post=7b3edef8-689b-4326-a1a4-ec6ea1c2ad4bInternational and European Sports Law – Monthly Report – January 2019 - By Tomáš Grell
<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;<b>Editor's note:</b> This report compiles all relevant news, events and
materials on International and European Sports Law based on the daily coverage
provided on our twitter feed <a href="https://twitter.com/sportslaw_asser">@Sportslaw_asser.</a> You
are invited to complete this survey via the comments section below, feel free
to add links to important cases, documents and articles we might have
overlooked.
</p><p class="MsoNormal"><b>&nbsp;</b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b>The Headlines</b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><i><u>#Save(d)Hakeem</u></i></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" align="justify">The plight of
Hakeem al-Araibi – the 25-year-old refugee footballer who was arrested last
November in Bangkok upon his arrival from Australia on the basis of a red
notice issued by Interpol in contravention of its own policies which afford
protection to refugees and asylum-seekers – continued throughout the month of
January. Bahrain – the country Hakeem al-Araibi fled in 2014 due to a
(well-founded) fear of persecution stemming from his previous experience when
he was imprisoned and tortured as part of the crackdown on pro-democracy
athletes who had protested against the royal family during the Arab spring –
maintained a firm stance, demanding that Hakeem be extradited to serve a prison
sentence over a conviction for vandalism charges, which was allegedly based on
coerced confessions and ignored evidence. </p>
<p class="MsoNormal" align="justify">While international
sports governing bodies were critised from the very beginning for not using
enough leverage with the governments of Bahrain and Thailand to ensure that
Hakeem’s human rights are protected, they have gradually added their voice to
the intense campaign for Hakeem’s release led by civil society groups. FIFA,
for example, has sent a <a href="https://resources.fifa.com/image/upload/fifa-letter-to-the-thai-authorities-concerning-hakeem-al-araibi.pdf?cloudid=tkgiczg37mwix1mg5jnl">letter</a> directly to the Prime Minister of Thailand, urging
the Thai authorities ‘<i>to take the
necessary steps to ensure that Mr al-Araibi is allowed to return safely to
Australia at the earliest possible moment, in accordance with the relevant
international standards</i>’. Yet many activists have found this action
insufficient and called for sporting sanctions to be imposed on the national
football associations of Bahrain and Thailand. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</p>
<p class="MsoNormal" align="justify">When it looked like
Hakeem will continue to be detained in Thailand at least until April this year,
the <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/2019/feb/11/thailand-to-free-bahraini-footballer-hakeem-al-araibi">news</a> broke that the Thai authorities agreed to release
Hakeem due to the fact that for now the Bahraini government had given up on the
idea of bringing Hakeem ‘home’ – <a href="https://www.uniglobalunion.org/news/hakeem-saved-historic-moment-sport-and-human-rights-movement">a moment that
was praised as historic for the sport and human rights movement</a>.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal" align="justify"><i><u>Russia avoids further sanctions from WADA despite
missing the deadline for handing over doping data from the Moscow laboratory</u></i>&nbsp;
</p><p class="MsoNormal" align="justify">WADA has been back
in turmoil ever since the new year began as the Russian authorities failed to
provide it with access to crucial doping data from the former Moscow laboratory
within the required <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2019/jan/01/rusada-missed-doping-data-deadline-wada-travis-tygart-craig-reedie">deadline
which expired on 31 December 2018</a>, insisting that the equipment WADA intended to use
for the data extraction was not certified under Russian law. The Russian
Anti-Doping Agency thus failed to meet one of the two conditions under which
its three-year suspension was <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2018/sep/20/wada-crisis-lifts-russia-suspension-anti-doping">controversially
lifted</a> in September 2018.
The missed deadline sparked outrage among many athletes and national
anti-doping organisations, who blamed WADA for not applying enough muscle
against the Russian authorities.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal" align="justify">Following the
expiry of the respective deadline, it appeared that further sanctions could be
imposed on the Russian Anti-Doping Agency, but such an option was on the table
only until WADA finally managed to access the Moscow laboratory and <a href="https://www.wada-ama.org/en/media/news/2019-01/wada-successfully-retrieves-data-from-moscow-laboratory">retrieve the
doping data</a> on 17
January 2019. Shortly thereafter, WADA President Sir Craig Reedie hailed the
progress as a major breakthrough for clean sport and members of the WADA
Executive Committee agreed that <a href="https://www.wada-ama.org/en/media/news/2019-01/wada-executive-committee-endorses-crc-recommendation-to-continue-applying">no further
sanctions</a> were needed
despite the missed deadline. However, doubts remain as to whether the data have
not been manipulated. Before WADA delivers on its promise and builds strong
cases against the athletes who doped – to be handled by international sports
federations – it first needs to do its homework and verify whether the
retrieved data are indeed genuine. &nbsp;</p><p class="MsoNormal" align="justify"><i><u>British track cyclist Jessica Varnish not an employee
according to UK employment tribunal</u></i></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" align="justify">On 16 January 2019,
an employment tribunal in Manchester rendered a <a href="https://www.matrixlaw.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2019/01/VARNISH-V-THE-BRITISH-CYCLING-FEDERATION-OTHER-ET.pdf">judgment</a> with wider implications for athletes and sports
governing bodies in the United Kingdom, ruling that the female track cyclist
Jessica Varnish was neither an employee nor a worker of the national governing
body British Cycling and the funding agency UK Sport. The 28-year-old multiple
medal winner from the world and European championships takes part in
professional sport as an independent contractor but sought to establish before
the tribunal that she was in fact an employee of the two organisations. This
would enable her to sue either organisation for unfair dismissal as she was
dropped from the British cycling squad for the 2016 Olympic Games in Rio de
Janeiro and her funding agreement was not renewed, allegedly in response to her
critical remarks about some of the previous coaching decisions.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal" align="justify">The tribunal
eventually dismissed her challenge, concluding that ‘<i>she was not personally performing work provided by the respondent –
rather she was personally performing a commitment to train in accordance with
the individual rider agreement in the hope of achieving success at
international competitions</i>’. Despite the outcome of the dispute, Jessica
Varnish has insisted that her legal challenge contributed to a positive change
in the structure, policies and personnel of British Cycling and UK Sport, while
both organisations have communicated they had already taken action to
strengthen the duty of care and welfare provided to athletes. &nbsp;</p>
<p class="MsoNormal" align="justify">&nbsp;</p>
<p class="MsoNormal" align="justify"><b>Sports Law Related Decisions</b></p><p align="justify"></p><ul><li>&nbsp;Employment Tribunal – <a href="https://www.matrixlaw.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2019/01/VARNISH-V-THE-BRITISH-CYCLING-FEDERATION-OTHER-ET.pdf">Reserved
judgment in the case involving Jess Varnish</a></li></ul><p></p>
<p><br></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" align="justify"><b>Official Documents and Press Releases</b></p>
<p align="justify"></p><ul><li>CAS – <a href="https://www.tas-cas.org/fileadmin/user_upload/CAS_Bulletin_2018_2.pdf#page73">Bulletin
2018/02</a></li><li>CAS – <a href="https://www.tas-cas.org/fileadmin/user_upload/Code_2019__en_.pdf">Code of
sports-related arbitration (effective from 1 January 2019)</a></li><li>FIFA – <a href="https://www.fifa.com/about-fifa/who-we-are/news/fifa-statement-on-hakeem-al-araibi">Statement on
Hakeem al-Araibi</a></li><li>FIFA –<b> </b><a href="https://www.fifa.com/about-fifa/who-we-are/news/fifa-letter-to-the-thai-authorities-concerning-hakeem-al-araibi">Letter to the
Thai authorities concerning Hakeem al-Araibi</a></li><li>FIFA –<b> </b><a href="https://www.fifa.com/governance/news/y=2019/m=1/news=fifa-appeal-committee-partially-upholds-appeal-lodged-by-kalusha-bwalya.html">FIFA Appeal
Committee partially upholds appeal lodged by Kalusha Bwalya</a></li><li>FIFA –<b> </b><a href="https://www.fifa.com/about-fifa/who-we-are/news/fifa-unesco-and-the-world-food-programme-agree-innovative-partnership">FIFA, UNESCO
and the World Food Programme agree innovative partnership</a></li><li>FIFA – <a href="https://www.fifatms.com/wp-content/uploads/dlm_uploads/2019/01/fifa_tms_gtm_women_A4_online_f01.pdf">Global
Transfer Market Report 2018 - women</a></li><li>FIFA –<b> </b><a href="https://www.fifatms.com/wp-content/uploads/dlm_uploads/2019/01/fifa_tms_gtm_men_A4_online_f01.pdf">Global
Transfer Market Report 2018 - men</a></li><li>FIFA –<b> </b><a href="https://www.fifatms.com/wp-content/uploads/dlm_uploads/2018/12/Intermediaries-2018.pdf">Intermediaries
in International Transfers 2018</a></li><li>FIFA –<b> </b><a href="https://www.fifa.com/about-fifa/who-we-are/news/joint-public-statement-on-behalf-of-fifa-uefa-afc-the-premier-league-laliga-and-">Joint public
statement on behalf of FIFA, UEFA, AFC, the Premier League, LaLiga and
Bundesliga on beoutQ</a></li><li>FIFA –<b> </b><a href="https://www.fifa.com/governance/news/y=2019/m=1/news=normalisation-committee-appointed-for-namibian-fa.html">Normalisation
committee appointed for Namibian FA</a></li><li>Human
Rights Watch –<b> </b><a href="https://www.hrw.org/news/2019/01/17/qatar-partial-reforms-risk-undermining-progress">Qatar:
Partial reforms risk undermining progress</a></li><li>IBSF –<b> </b><a href="https://www.ibsf.org/en/news/8-bobsleigh/20981-ibsf-statement#.XEAoJRkE9ws.twitter">IBSF
sanctions Russian bobsleigh athletes and official for anti-doping rule
violation with a period of ineligibility of two years</a></li><li>IOC – <a href="https://www.olympic.org/news/new-year-s-message-2019">New year’s
message 2019</a></li><li>IOC – <a href="https://www.olympic.org/news/ioc-disappointed-at-decision-of-swiss-federal-tribunal">IOC
disappointed at decision of Swiss Federal Tribunal</a></li><li>IOC –<b> </b><a href="https://www.olympic.org/news/ioc-sanctions-one-athlete-for-failing-anti-doping-tests-at-london-2012">IOC sanctions
one athlete for failing anti-doping tests at London 2012</a></li><li>IOC –<b> </b><a href="https://www.olympic.org/news/stockholm-are-and-milan-cortina-submit-innovative-games-plans-for-the-olympic-winter-games-2026">Stockholm-Are
and Milan-Cortina submit innovative Games plans for the Olympic Winter Games
2026</a></li><li>Tennis
Integrity Unit – <a href="http://www.tennisintegrityunit.com/annual-review/2018/">Annual Review
2018</a></li><li>Tennis
Integrity Unit –<b> </b><a href="http://www.tennisintegrityunit.com/media-releases/cristobal-saavedra-corvalan-suspended-and-fined-failing-co-operate-tiu-corruption-investigation">Cristobal
Saavedra-Corvalan suspended and fined for failing to cooperate with TIU
corruption investigation</a></li><li>UEFA – <a href="https://www.uefa.com/MultimediaFiles/Download/OfficialDocument/uefaorg/Clublicensing/02/58/99/65/2589965_DOWNLOAD.pdf">Club
Licensing Benchmarking Report Financial Year 2017</a></li><li>UEFA –<b> </b><a href="https://www.uefa.com/insideuefa/protecting-the-game/club-licensing-and-financial-fair-play/news/newsid=2589785.html">UEFA report
details European football’s journey to profitability</a></li><li>WADA – <a href="https://www.wada-ama.org/en/media/news/2019-01/new-year-message-to-stakeholders-from-wada-president-and-director-general">New Year
message to stakeholders from WADA President and Director General</a></li><li>WADA –<b> </b><a href="https://www.wada-ama.org/en/media/news/2019-01/reminder-wada-is-soliciting-feedback-on-the-anti-doping-charter-of-athlete-rights">Reminder:
WADA is soliciting feedback on the Anti-Doping Charter of Athlete Rights</a></li><li>WADA – <a href="https://www.wada-ama.org/en/media/news/2019-01/wada-update-on-extraction-of-moscow-laboratory-data-and-rusada-compliance-status">Update on
extraction of Moscow Laboratory data and RUSADA compliance status</a></li><li>WADA –<b> </b><a href="https://www.wada-ama.org/en/media/news/2019-01/statement-from-the-wada-athlete-committee-on-russian-compliance-situation">Statement
from the WADA Athlete Committee on Russian compliance situation</a></li><li>WADA –<b> </b><a href="https://www.wada-ama.org/en/media/news/2019-01/wada-expert-team-to-return-to-moscow">WADA expert
team to return to Moscow</a></li><li>WADA –<b> </b><a href="https://www.wada-ama.org/en/media/news/2019-01/wada-successfully-retrieves-data-from-moscow-laboratory">WADA
successfully retrieves data from Moscow Laboratory</a></li><li>WADA –<b> </b><a href="https://www.wada-ama.org/en/media/news/2019-01/wada-executive-committee-endorses-crc-recommendation-to-continue-applying">WADA
Executive Committee endorses CRC recommendation to continue applying conditions
of RUSADA compliance</a></li><li>WADA –<b> </b><a href="https://www.wada-ama.org/en/media/news/2019-01/wada-compliance-review-committee-update">WADA
Compliance Review Committee update</a></li></ul><p></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" align="justify"><b>&nbsp;</b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" align="justify"><b>In the news</b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" align="justify"><i>Doping</i></p><p align="justify"></p><ul><li>Associated
Press <a href="https://apnews.com/8d30ba4d3ea64598a4d0968686dfc432?utm_campaign=SocialFlow&amp;utm_medium=AP_Sports&amp;utm_source=Twitter">Russian court
says bobsledder can keep Olympic titles</a></li><li>BBC Sport <a href="https://www.bbc.com/sport/winter-sports/46843365">Alexandr
Zubkov to keep Olympic titles in Russia despite IOC ruling</a></li><li>Andy
Brown <a href="https://www.sportsintegrityinitiative.com/wadas-intelligence-investigations-department-covering-20-of-cases/">WADA’s
Intelligence &amp; Investigations department covering 20% of cases</a></li><li>Sean
Ingle <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2019/jan/25/olympic-marathon-champion-jemima-sumgong-doping-ban-doubled-kenya-">Marathon
champion Jemima Sumgong has doping ban doubled to eight years</a></li><li>Sean
Ingle <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2019/jan/14/team-sky-british-cycling-richard-freeman-medical-tribunal-testosterone">Tribunal to
hear claims ex-Team Sky doctor Freeman ordered testosterone</a></li><li>Sean
Ingle <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2019/jan/01/rusada-missed-doping-data-deadline-wada-travis-tygart-craig-reedie">WADA accussed
of being ‘played’ after Russians miss doping data deadline</a></li><li>Sean
Ingle <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2019/jan/02/wada-athletes-pressure-new-ban-russia-doping">WADA athletes
body adds to pressure for new ban on Russia</a></li><li>Sean
Ingle <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2019/jan/07/wada-return-to-russia-doping-data-craig-reedie">WADA experts
set to return to Russia to investigate doping data after IT row</a></li><li>Sean
Ingle <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2019/jan/17/wada-retrieves-doping-data-moscow-doubts-linger">WADA
retrieves doping data from Moscow but doubts linger over veracity</a></li><li>Sean
Ingle <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2019/jan/22/russia-avoid-wada-sanctions-missing-data-deadline">Russia avoids
further WADA sanctions despite missing data deadline</a></li></ul><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" align="justify"><i>Football</i></p>
<p align="justify"></p><ul><li>David
Conn <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/football/2019/jan/17/europe-clubs-benefit-ffp-first-profit">Europe’s
top-tier football clubs reap benefit of FFP with first overall profit</a></li><li>David
Conn <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/football/2019/jan/15/manchester-city-refuse-comment-uefa-ffp-allegations">Manchester
City refuse to give UEFA any comment on FFP allegations</a></li><li>David
Conn <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/football/2019/jan/10/football-gambling-dire-consequences-young-men-bet-new-study">Revealed: The
‘dire consequences’ of football’s relationship with gambling</a></li><li>Helen Davidson <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/2019/jan/18/hakeem-al-araibi-bahrain-says-refugee-footballers-life-is-not-in-danger">Hakeem
al-Araibi: Bahrain says refugee footballer’s life is not in danger</a></li><li>Helen Davidson <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/2019/jan/26/call-for-fifas-salman-al-khalifa-to-step-down-if-hakeem-al-araibi-is-not-freed">Call for
FIFA’s Salman al-Khalifa to step down if Hakeem al-Araibi is not freed</a></li><li>Sean
Ingle <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/football/2019/jan/24/fifa-urges-thailand-release-bahraini-footballer-hakeem-al-araibi">FIFA urges
Thailand to release Bahraini footballer Hakeem al-Araibi</a></li><li>Sean
Ingle <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/football/2019/jan/24/real-madrid-barcelona-overtake-manchester-united-football-top-earners-deloitte-money-league">Real Madrid
and Barcelona overtake Manchester United as top earning clubs</a></li><li>Sean
Ingle and Helen Davidson <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/football/2019/jan/28/hakeem-al-araibi-bahrain-detention-activists-emergency">Campaigners
say case of Bahraini footballer Hakeem al-Araibi now an ‘emergency’</a></li><li>Tariq
Panja <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2019/01/22/sports/fifa-uefa-infantino.html?rref=collection%2Fbyline%2Ftariq-panja&amp;action=click&amp;contentCollection=undefined&amp;region=stream&amp;module=stream_unit&amp;version=latest&amp;contentPlacement=6&amp;pgtype=collection">FIFA’s boss
wants to remake the game. Europe wants no part of it.</a></li><li>Tariq
Panja <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2019/01/17/sports/qatar-saudi-arabia-asian-cup.html?rref=collection%2Fbyline%2Ftariq-panja&amp;action=click&amp;contentCollection=undefined&amp;region=stream&amp;module=stream_unit&amp;version=latest&amp;contentPlacement=8&amp;pgtype=collection">Politics
looms over empty seats as Saudi Arabia faces Qatar in Asian Cup</a></li><li>Tariq
Panja <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2019/01/31/sports/soccer/qatar-uae-asian-cup.html?rref=collection%2Fbyline%2Ftariq-panja&amp;action=click&amp;contentCollection=undefined&amp;region=stream&amp;module=stream_unit&amp;version=latest&amp;contentPlacement=3&amp;pgtype=collection">U.A.E.
accuses Qatar of fielding ineligible players at Asian Cup</a></li><li>Tariq
Panja <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2019/01/23/sports/soccer/football-leaks-rui-pinto.html">When is a
hacker whistle-blower? In Football Leaks case, a Hungarian judge will decide</a></li><li>Tariq
Panja and Kevin Draper <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2019/01/10/sports/cristiano-ronaldo-lawsuit.html?rref=collection%2Fbyline%2Ftariq-panja&amp;action=click&amp;contentCollection=undefined&amp;region=stream&amp;module=stream_unit&amp;version=latest&amp;contentPlacement=1&amp;pgtype=collection">Cristiano
Ronaldo’s DNA sought by Las Vegas police in rape investigation</a></li><li>Tariq
Panja and Hiroko Tabuchi <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2019/01/11/world/europe/japan-olympics-corruption-tsunekazu-takeda.html?rref=collection%2Fbyline%2Ftariq-panja&amp;action=click&amp;contentCollection=undefined&amp;region=stream&amp;module=stream_unit&amp;version=latest&amp;contentPlacement=10&amp;pgt">Japan’s
Olympic chief faces corruption charges in France</a></li></ul><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" align="justify"><i>Other</i></p>
<p align="justify"></p><ul><li>Stine
Alvad <a href="https://playthegame.org/news/news-articles/2019/0550_fifa-fails-to-live-up-to-own-human-rights-standards-in-freehakeem-case-critics-say/">FIFA fails to
live up to own human rights standards in #SaveHakeen case, critics say</a></li><li>Philip
Blenkinsop <a href="https://www.reuters.com/article/us-eu-nike-tax/nikes-dutch-tax-status-investigated-by-eu-commission-idUSKCN1P415L">Nike’s Dutch
tax status investigated by EU regulators</a></li><li>Sean
Ingle <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2019/jan/16/jess-varnish-employment-tribunal-british-cycling-uk-sport">Jess Varnish
loses employment tribunal case against British Cycling and UK Sport</a></li><li>Sean
Ingle <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2019/jan/17/jess-varnish-exposed-culture-fear">Jess Varnish:
I lost, but my stance has exposed a culture of fear</a></li><li>Sean
Ingle <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2019/jan/04/lives-transformed-grassroots-sport-sir-keith-mills-sported">‘Lives have
been transformed’ – the entrepreneur who put £10m into grassroots sport</a></li><li>Sam
Jones <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2019/jan/10/police-spain-break-up-tennis-match-fixing-ring-28-pros?CMP=share_btn_tw">Police in
Spain break up tennis match-fixing ring involving 28 pros</a></li><li>Braden
Keith <a href="https://swimswam.com/fina-relaxes-rules-wont-ban-athletes-for-competing-in-non-fina-meets/">FINA relaxes
rules, won’t ban athletes for competing in non-FINA events</a></li><li>Malay
Mail <a href="https://www.malaymail.com/news/sports/2019/01/30/cas-dismisses-karims-appeal-against-iaaf/1718084#.XFI9HzIq5w4.twitter">CAS dismisses
Karim’s appeal against IAAF</a></li><li>Liam
Morgan <a href="https://www.insidethegames.biz/articles/1074077/japanese-olympic-committee-president-indicted-on-corruption-charges-in-france">Japanese
Olympic Committee President indicted on corruption charges in France</a></li><li>Jonathan
Taylor <a href="https://www.sportsintegrityinitiative.com/response-to-open-letter-from-sebastian-samuelsson/">Response to
open letter from Sebastian Samuelsson</a></li></ul><p></p><p align="justify"><br></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" align="justify"><b>Academic Materials</b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" align="justify"><i>International Sports Law Journal</i></p>
<p align="justify"></p><ul><li>Cem
Abanazir <a href="https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s40318-018-0139-6">E-sport and
the EU: The View from the English Bridge Union</a></li><li>Alexander
Brown and Roger Baines <a href="https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s40318-019-00142-x">The Potential
Exploitation of Non-English Speaking Players in UK Professional Football
Contracts</a></li><li>James
Brown <a href="https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s40318-019-00141-y">Genetic
Doping: WADA We Do About the Future of ‘Cheating’ in Sport?</a> </li><li>John
Didulica <a href="https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s40318-018-0138-7">Changing the
Game: The Legal Framework for the Laws of the Game, Management of Human
Performance Data and Related Safety Considerations in Women's Professional
Sport</a></li><li>Matteo Maciel and Adam Walton <a href="https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s40318-018-0140-0">Can Player
Economic Value Rights Be Used as Collateral?</a></li></ul><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" align="justify"><i>Other</i></p>
<p align="justify"></p><ul><li>Jan
Exner <a href="https://www.springer.com/gp/book/9783030108069">Sporting
Nationality in the Context of European Union</a></li></ul><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" align="justify"><br></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" align="justify"><b>Blog</b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" align="justify"><i>Law in Sport</i></p>
<p align="justify"></p><ul><li>Katherine
Apps <a href="https://www.lawinsport.com/topics/articles/item/can-you-temporarily-step-down-from-an-employment-role-a-view-on-craig-bellamy-s-position">Can you
‘temporarily step down’ from an employment role? A view on Craig Bellamy’s
position</a></li><li>Kevin
Carpenter <a href="https://www.lawinsport.com/topics/articles/item/interview-with-kevin-carpenter-a-career-in-sports-law-and-sports-integrity-episode-72?category_id=112">Podcast on
career in sports law and sports integrity</a></li><li>Angela
Collins <a href="https://www.lawinsport.com/topics/articles/item/gender-equality-in-football-how-much-does-fifa-value-the-women-s-game">Gender
equality in football – how much does FIFA ‘value’ the women’s game?</a></li><li>Zoe
Dudgeon and Elinor Boote <a href="https://www.lawinsport.com/topics/articles/item/a-comprehensive-guide-for-sports-bodies-on-tackling-discrimination">A
comprehensive guide for sports bodies on tackling discrimination</a></li><li>Nick
Hawkins and Naomi Latham <a href="https://www.lawinsport.com/topics/articles/item/top-tips-for-football-clubs-on-navigating-complex-employment-negotiations">Top tips for
football clubs on navigating complex employment negotiations</a></li><li>Marc
Peltier <a href="https://www.lawinsport.com/topics/articles/item/french-law-brought-into-line-with-the-world-anti-doping-code">French law
brought into line with the World Anti-Doping Code</a></li><li>Angelo
Rigopoulos <a href="https://www.lawinsport.com/topics/articles/item/a-guide-to-uefa-s-good-governance-reform?category_id=112#references">A guide to
UEFA’s good governance reform</a></li><li>Toni
Roca <a href="https://www.lawinsport.com/topics/articles/item/fifa-s-proposed-solidarity-mechanism-reforms-an-effective-solution-or-a-lost-opportunity">FIFA’s
proposed solidarity mechanism reforms – an effective solution or a lost
opportunity?</a></li><li>Brendan
Schwab <a href="https://soundcloud.com/lawinsport/brendan-schwab-world-players-association-on-the-hakeem-al-araibi-case">Podcast on
the Hakeem al-Araibi case</a>&nbsp;
</li></ul><p></p><p class="MsoNormal" align="justify"><i>Other</i></p>
<p align="justify"></p><ul><li>Jack
Anderson <a href="https://law.unimelb.edu.au/alumni/mls-news/issue-20-november-2018/sport-scandals-of-2018">Sport
scandals of 2018</a></li><li>Nikki Dryden <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2019/jan/17/why-hakeem-al-araibis-plight-is-a-test-of-the-olympic-movement-itself">Why Hakeem
al-Araibi’s plight is a test of the Olympic movement itself</a></li><li>Marina
Hyde <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2019/jan/02/inconceivable-russia-yet-again-leave-sir-craig-reedie-looking-the-fool-wada-drugs-in-sport-athletics">Inconceivable!
Russia yet again leaves Sir Craig Reedie looking the fool</a></li><li>Marina
Hyde <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/sport/blog/2019/jan/30/saudi-arabia-sportswashing-golf-european-tour-saudi-international-justin-rose">Saudi Arabia,
sportwashing and golf’s daring sortie into enemy coffers</a></li><li>Marina
Hyde <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/sport/blog/2019/jan/09/wada-lynch-mob-dick-pound-craig-reedie">The anti-WADA
‘lynch mob’ is not one Vernon Kay and co would recognise</a></li><li>Sean
Ingle <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/football/blog/2019/jan/27/hakeem-al-araibi-bahrain-detention-thailand-extradition-order-fifa-ioc">Football must
go in hard on Bahrain over the Hakeem al-Araibi affair</a></li><li>Doug
MacQuarrie <a href="https://www.sportsintegrityinitiative.com/another-point-of-view/">Another point
of view from Doug MacQuarrie, Chair of iNADO</a></li><li>Sportschau
<a href="https://www.sportschau.de/doping/The-Duped-Cheat-100.html">The duped
cheat</a></li><li>Minky
Worden <a href="https://www.hrw.org/news/2018/12/06/hakeem-al-araibis-case-true-test-fifas-new-human-rights-policy">Hakeem
al-Araibi’s case is a true test of FIFA’s new human rights policy</a></li></ul><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" align="justify">&nbsp;</p>
<p class="MsoNormal" align="justify"><b>Upcoming Events</b></p>
<p align="justify"></p><ul><li>8 May –
<a href="https://www.asser.nl/SportsLaw/Blog/post/call-for-papers-fifa-and-human-rights-impacts-policies-responsibilities-deadline-30-january">FIFA and
Human Rights: Impacts, Policies and Responsibilities</a>, T.M.C. Asser Institute, The Hague, Netherlands</li><li>22-23
May – <a href="https://www.lawinsport.com/sports-law-events/conference/69-footy-pap2019">Football Law
2019: Player Transfers, Agents, Politics and the Business of Football</a>, London, UK</li><li>27-28
June – <a href="https://www.dropbox.com/s/2wl04evr7jwnc5c/2019_Conference_Call_for_papers.pdf?dl=0">14<sup>th</sup>
Sport&amp;EU Annual Conference</a>, Valleta, Malta</li><li>12-13
September – <a href="https://www.lawinsport.com/annual-conference">Understand
the Rules of the Game 2019: LawInSport Annual Conference</a>, London, UK</li><li>24-25
October – <a href="https://www.asser.nl/SportsLaw/Blog/post/call-for-papers-third-annual-international-sports-law-conference-of-the-international-sports-law-journal-24-and-25-october-2019-asser-institute">Third Annual
International Sports Law Conference of the International Sports Law Journal</a>, T.M.C. Asser Institute, The Hague, Netherlands</li></ul><p></p>
http://www.asser.nl/SportsLaw/Blog/post/international-and-european-sports-law-monthly-report-january-2019-by-tomas-grell
http://www.asser.nl/SportsLaw/Blog/post/international-and-european-sports-law-monthly-report-january-2019-by-tomas-grell#commenthttp://www.asser.nl/SportsLaw/Blog/post.aspx?id=d1df4753-8755-45bf-8611-26250f787821Tue, 19 Feb 2019 21:02:00 +0200BlogInternational Sports Law CasesInternational Sports Law EventsInternational Sports Law MaterialInternational Sports Law PublicationsAntoine Duvalhttp://www.asser.nl/SportsLaw/Blog/pingback.axdhttp://www.asser.nl/SportsLaw/Blog/post.aspx?id=d1df4753-8755-45bf-8611-26250f7878210http://www.asser.nl/SportsLaw/Blog/trackback.axd?id=d1df4753-8755-45bf-8611-26250f787821http://www.asser.nl/SportsLaw/Blog/post/international-and-european-sports-law-monthly-report-january-2019-by-tomas-grell#commenthttp://www.asser.nl/SportsLaw/Blog/syndication.axd?post=d1df4753-8755-45bf-8611-26250f787821Football Intermediaries: Would a European centralized licensing system be a sustainable solution? - By Panagiotis Roumeliotis<p class="MsoNormal" align="justify"><b>Editor's note: </b>Panagiotis
Roumeliotis holds an LL.B. degree from National and Kapodistrian University of
Athens, Greece and an LL.M. degree in European and International Tax Law from
University of Luxembourg. He is qualified lawyer in Greece and is presently
working as tax advisor with KPMG Luxembourg while pursuing, concomitantly, an
LL.M. in International Sports Law at Sheffield Hallam University, England. His
interest lies in the realm of tax and sports law. He may be contacted by e-mail
at ‘p.roumeliotis@hotmail.com’. <br></p><p class="MsoNormal" align="justify"><br></p><h1 align="justify"><a name="_Toc514033519"></a></h1>
<h4 align="justify">Introduction</h4>
<p class="MsoNormal" align="justify">The landmark <a href="https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/?uri=CELEX%3A61993CJ0415"><i>Bosman
Ruling</i></a> triggered
the Europeanization of the labour market for football players by banning
nationality quotas. In turn, in conjunction with the boom in TV revenues, this
led to a flourishing transfer market in which players’ agents or intermediaries
play a pivotal role, despite having a controversial
reputation.</p>
<p class="xmsonormal" align="justify">As a preliminary remark, it is important to touch upon the fiduciary
duty of sports agents towards their clients. The
principal-agent relationship implies that the former employs the agent so as to
secure the best employment and/or commercial opportunities. Conversely, the
latter is expected to act in the interest of the player as <a href="https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/fiduciary-duty-football-intermediaries-conflict-gregory-ioannidis/">their relationship should be
predicated on trust and confidence</a>, as much was made
clear in the English
Court of Appeal case of <a href="https://court-appeal.vlex.co.uk/vid/-52560159"><i>Imageview Management
Ltd v. Kelvin Jack</i></a>. Notably, agents are bound to exercise the utmost
degree of good faith, honesty and loyalty towards the players.<a href="#_ftn1" name="_ftnref1" title="">[1]</a> </p>
<p class="MsoNormal" align="justify">At the core of this blog
lies a comparative case study
of the implementation of the <a href="https://img.fifa.com/image/upload/cr6dquxm2adupv8q3ply.pdf">FIFA Regulations on working with intermediaries</a> (hereinafter “FIFA RWI”) in eight European FAs covering most of the transfers during the <i>mercato</i>. I will then critically analyze
the issues raised by the implementation of the RWI and, as a conclusion, offer
some recommendations. <br></p><p class="MsoNormal" align="justify"><br></p>
<h4 class="xmsonormal" align="justify">FIFA RWI<br></h4><p class="xmsonormal" align="justify">In 2015, FIFA sought a new reform of football agents’
activity and adopted regulations on dealing with intermediaries<a href="#_ftn2" name="_ftnref2" title="">[2]</a> that are defined as “<i>a natural or legal person who, for a fee or
free of charge, represents players and/or clubs in negotiations with a view to
concluding an employment contract or represents clubs in negotiations with a
view to concluding a transfer agreement</i>”.<a href="#_ftn3" name="_ftnref3" title="">[3]</a></p>
<p class="xmsonormal" align="justify">As solemnly illustrated in the Preamble, their
purported aim is to bolster high ethical standards for the relations between
clubs, players and third parties as well as enable proper control and
transparency as regards player transfers.<a href="#_ftn4" name="_ftnref4" title="">[4]</a> &nbsp;In a nutshell, FIFA devolved its regulatory
powers to the national federations whereas it will just monitor the regulations’
proper implementation.<a href="#_ftn5" name="_ftnref5" title="">[5]</a></p><p class="xmsonormal" align="justify"><br></p>
<h4 class="xmsonormal" align="justify">Case studies of the national implementation of the RWI in eight countries<br></h4><p class="xmsonormal" align="justify">The concrete impact of the new RWI can be duly chartered through an examination
of European FAs’ implementation (i.e. Belgium, England, France, Germany, Italy,
Netherlands, Portugal, and Spain) as <a href="https://ec.europa.eu/sport/sites/sport/files/report-transfer-of-players-2018-en.pdf">Europe possesses by far the biggest
transfer market globally</a>.</p>
<h5 class="xmsonormal" align="justify"><u>Registration</u><br></h5><p class="xmsonormal" align="justify">The registration process is a <i>conditio sine qua non</i> for agents. Based on a literal interpretation
of the RWI, agents’ registration should occur on a transactional basis<a href="#_ftn6" name="_ftnref6" title="">[6]</a> and it is conferred upon
clubs and players to provide to the respective FA the intermediary declaration
and representation contract.<a href="#_ftn7" name="_ftnref7" title="">[7]</a> As FAs are empowered to go
beyond the minimum requirements enshrined in FIFA’s RWI<a href="#_ftn8" name="_ftnref8" title="">[8]</a> in some instances they
have implemented different requirements.</p>
<h5 class="xmsonormal" align="justify"><u>Burdensome character</u><br></h5><p class="xmsonormal" align="justify">For purposes of tracking and tracing their activity,
agents should, subject to signing and filing the so-called “intermediary
declaration”, be registered with the FA where they exercise their profession. <i>Ergo</i>, the plethora of administrative
rules simultaneously applied constitute glaring obstacles, as they allegedly impede
the provision of services on behalf of agents<a href="#_ftn9" name="_ftnref9" title="">[9]</a> and, on top of that, the enhanced
amount of registration fees<a href="#_ftn10" name="_ftnref10" title="">[10]</a> is burdensome. The net result seems
to be that a “fragmented
and multi-tiered system”<a href="#_ftn11" name="_ftnref11" title="">[11]</a> does not seem compatible
with EU law. It
is more likely than not that by curtailing the development of agents’ business,
EU law (i.e. restraint on competition, free movement of services) is infringed.
</p>
<h5 class="xmsonormal" align="justify"><u>Lack of qualification assessment&nbsp; </u><br></h5><p class="xmsonormal" align="justify">Apart from France<a href="#_ftn12" name="_ftnref12" title="">[12]</a>, where candidates must
sit a written examination and Spain<a href="#_ftn13" name="_ftnref13" title="">[13]</a>, where a personal
interview with the respective FA takes place, in principle, such assessments
are not considered.&nbsp;
</p><p class="xmsonormal" align="justify">The self-certification of impeccable reputation does
not guarantee the quality of the services rendered by agents and the possession
of the requisite skills thereto. In fact, the <a href="http://ec.europa.eu/social/BlobServlet?mode=dsw&amp;docId=11799&amp;langId=en">EU Sectoral Social Dialogue
Committee for Professional Football confirmed a decreased quality of said
services</a>. The obligation to undertake a serious examination should, <i>a fortiori</i>, be taken seriously into
account and put into practice as it will offer guarantees of objectivity and
transparency.</p>
<p class="xmsonormal" align="justify">Of course one could contradict that agents derive
their value from their extensive network of contacts and market knowledge;<a href="#_ftn14" name="_ftnref14" title="">[14]</a> instead of their
education or license. Nevertheless, qualitative criteria need to be set as a
condition for eventual registration, as players should only have the option to
gravitate towards agents that can deploy them quality services. This is further
fortified by the fact that football has become a sophisticated business,
whereby complex contracts plausibly require qualified assistance so as to
achieve a better protection of players’ rights.<a href="#_ftn15" name="_ftnref15" title="">[15]</a></p>
<h5 class="MsoNormal" align="justify"><u>Remuneration</u><br></h5><p class="MsoNormal" align="justify">In theory,
agents should be entitled to receive remuneration so long as they have brought
about the employment contract/transfer agreement for which they have been
engaged. The mere introduction of the parties to a contract, without evidence
of contribution to said conclusion, is not sufficient<a href="#_ftn16" name="_ftnref16" title="">[16]</a> as the
entitlement to commission crystalizes upon the provision of services.</p>
<p class="xmsonormal" align="justify">Reality bears witness to the fact that the recommended
3% benchmark cap inserted in the FIFA RWI<a href="#_ftn17" name="_ftnref17" title="">[17]</a>, <i>albeit</i>
being the apple of discord in recent discussions, has not been interpreted by
FAs as a “must”. Only 4/8<a href="#_ftn18" name="_ftnref18" title="">[18]</a> FAs
have transposed such recommendation in their domestic RWI while the others<a href="#_ftn19" name="_ftnref19" title="">[19]</a> have
ignored it.</p>
<p class="xmsonormal" align="justify">A glance at current numbers proves that, in
spite of the recommended cap, agents’ fees have swelled; <a href="https://www.fifatms.com/wp-content/uploads/dlm_uploads/2017/12/Intermediaries-2017.pdf">as from
2013, UEFA clubs have spent 97.2% (i.e. USD 1.54 billion) of the commissions pocketed
by intermediaries globally</a>. Going forward, it is indicative that as per
the <a href="https://www.uefa.com/MultimediaFiles/Download/OfficialDocument/uefaorg/Clublicensing/02/53/00/22/2530022_DOWNLOAD.pdf">UEFA
Report for the FY 2016</a>, the average commission rate amounted to 13%
in Belgium, England, Italy and Portugal, 9% in France, 15% in Germany, 12% in
the Netherlands and 8% in Spain. The above figures succinctly demonstrate that FIFA’s recommendation
has not led to a <i>de facto</i> limitation
of the remuneration paid to agents. This is also confirmed by a report for the EC
that outlined <a href="https://ec.europa.eu/sport/sites/sport/files/report-transfer-of-players-2018-en.pdf">the increase in agents’ fees following
FIFA’s deregulation</a>.</p>
<p align="justify"></p><h5><u>Benchmark cons</u></h5><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" align="justify">Potential low remuneration cap
would, unavoidably, incite agents to breach their fiduciary duty and favour
their own interests. <i>Exempli gratia</i>, they would rather clinch
deals in FAs that contemplate higher commission fees, even if it is contrary to
the best interests of their client’s career. Furthermore, reprehensible practices would definitely take place since
agents’ commission and
players’ remuneration function inversely (i.e. the more agents receive, the
less players earn), while it is also likely
that agents would be
discouraged to provide high quality services.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal" align="justify"><a name="_Toc513505407">In the
same vein, it could lead to collision with EU law. As a matter of fact, it has </a><a href="http://www.asser.nl/SportsLaw/Blog/post/de-or-re-regulating-the-middlemen-the-dfb-s-regulation-of-intermediaries-under-eu-law-scrutiny-at-the-olg-frankfurt-by-antoine-duval-and-kester-mekenkamp">already
raised EU competition law concerns</a> as some have considered
it a disproportionate encroachment on agents’ economic freedom, thus, infringing
Articles 101 and 102 TFEU.</p>
<p align="justify"></p><h5><u>Benchmark pros</u></h5><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" align="justify">&nbsp;On the flip side, I would like to play devil’s advocate going forward. Should the 3% cap on fees apply, this would ward off “agents” whose sole purpose is to make “quick and dirty” money. Therefore, the 3% cap could work as an indirect assessment of the ones who are worth of being agents.</p>
<h5 class="MsoNormal" align="justify"><u>Conflicts of interests&nbsp; </u><br></h5><p class="MsoNormal" align="justify">From the outset of
the eventual transaction, players/clubs should endeavor to assure that no
conflicts of interest exist.<a href="#_ftn20" name="_ftnref20" title="">[20]</a> 6 out of 8 FAs<a href="#_ftn21" name="_ftnref21" title="">[21]</a> have transposed <i>ad litteram</i> the provision stipulating
the right of intermediaries to represent multiple parties to a transaction, so
long as they have articulated in advance potential conflicts of interest and received
written consent by all parties involved. The<i>
</i><a href="https://jurisprudence.tas-cas.org/Shared%20Documents/2988.pdf"><i>CSKA Sofia v. Loic Bensaid</i></a> case could be considered as a precursor to this
provision, in which it was stressed that an agent who represents both player
and club does not commit fraud so long as he has made the situation transparent
to the parties.<a href="#_ftn22" name="_ftnref22" title="">[22]</a></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" align="justify">In my view, said
provision ostensibly solves potential conflicts of interest but <i>de facto</i> goes against agents’ fiduciary
duty and ineluctably leads to such conflicts. By way of comment, should an
agent represent both the player and the destination club, he would have to act
in a neutral manner, which will adversely affect the player’s interests. In
order to maintain healthy relationships with the club so as to facilitate
future transactions, it is more likely that he will not seek the maximum salary
possible for the player. Conversely, should the agent represent both the player
and the club of origin, one can easily understand that a higher transfer fee
reduces the player’s salary and <i>vice
versa</i>.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal" align="justify">In my view, with
such provision, unwittingly or not, an own-goal has been inflicted as FAs are
not incentivized to crack down on potential conflicts of interest. At least, if
the French<a href="#_ftn23" name="_ftnref23" title="">[23]</a>/Portuguese<a href="#_ftn24" name="_ftnref24" title="">[24]</a> practice is not followed (i.e. dual representation is
prohibited), the English model<a href="#_ftn25" name="_ftnref25" title="">[25]</a> could be an attractive solution. Notably, the
possibility to seek independent legal advice should be construed as a necessary
requirement that will safeguard players’ sporting/financial interests from
being compromised.</p><h5 align="justify"><u>Minors</u></h5><p class="xmsonormal" align="justify">Almost all FAs outlawed payments when the player is a minor.<a href="#_ftn26" name="_ftnref26" title="">[26]</a>
Portugal<a href="#_ftn27" name="_ftnref27" title="">[27]</a>
seems to have applied a more stringent standard (i.e. representation is totally
forbidden), while Italy<a href="#_ftn28" name="_ftnref28" title="">[28]</a>
does not <i>stricto sensu</i> prohibit such
remuneration. </p>
<p class="xmsonormal" align="justify">One might be tempted to conclude that outlawing payments is commendable
but such perception is erroneous as the premise behind it goes against the players’
interests:</p>
<p align="justify"></p><ul><li>Agents not receiving consideration
in exchange for their services would most likely not provide the best advice for
their client, as, “good advice comes at a price”<a href="#_ftn29" name="_ftnref29" title="">[29]</a></li><li>Agents would have a vested interest
to tie up youngsters for many years, which might, in turn, work at their expense,
as the former might seek to capitalize their investment in the players as soon
as they get 18 years old. As submitted, when it comes to minors, unscrupulous
agents can go “forum shopping” and seek to conclude a representation contract
in the most favorable jurisdiction,<a href="#_ftn30" name="_ftnref30" title="">[30]</a>
i.e. the one that does not limit the duration of said contract. </li></ul><p></p>
<p class="xmsonormal" align="justify">The foregoing should be read in conjunction with the fact that in modern
football there are lots of talented young players with potential to become a
bone of contention for agents. Further to this, due account should be taken of
the fact that UEFA’s “home grown player rule” and the UEFA Financial Fair Play Regulations
push clubs to invest in youngsters and this renders their circulation in the
market more common than in the past.</p>
<p class="xmsonormal" align="justify">The <a href="https://www.fifatms.com/wp-content/uploads/dlm_uploads/2017/12/Intermediaries-2017.pdf">statistics provided by FIFA ITMS</a> show that minors are the category
of players who have most often used an agent, in 17.6% of the concluded
international transfers against 15.2% and 14.5% between 18-25 and 26-32 years
old, respectively. Therefore, it borders on the absurd that agents cannot be
remunerated when engaged in transactions involving minors. </p>
<p class="xmsonormal" align="justify">On top of that, higher thresholds ought to have been imposed i.e. the representation
contract should have a limited term and for this, a useful inspiration could be
derived from the case of <a href="https://www.lexology.com/library/detail.aspx?g=c50fff22-14de-4fb7-a68f-fb5cc2d69834"><i>Proactive Sports Management v Wayne Rooney</i></a>, where it was decided that the
eight-year image rights representation agreement<a href="#_ftn31" name="_ftnref31" title="">[31]</a>
constituted an unreasonable restraint of trade. </p>
<p align="justify"></p><h5><u>Duration of the Representation Contract</u></h5><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" align="justify">FIFA’s
RWI left a normative vacuum by not including a provision on the maximum
duration of a representation contract. However, my comparative study shows that
5/8 FAs<a href="#_ftn32" name="_ftnref32" title="">[32]</a> impose
a maximum 2 year term on the representation contract.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal" align="justify">Such a
limit protects not only the
players’ but also the clubs’ interests against potential abuses involved in the
engagement of agents for long periods.<a href="#_ftn33" name="_ftnref33" title="">[33]</a> Furthermore, it avoids
conflicts pertaining to restraint of trade as the absence of limits could lead to players being tied to their agent for a
disproportionate period of time.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal" align="justify">However,
since exclusivity (i.e. maximum duration of contract) is not prescribed in FIFA
RWI, this could imply that they provide a safe harbor to players not to be
contractually bound for a predetermined period of time. As submitted, this
grants the players more bargaining power and would, indirectly, force agents to
act in the best interests of their clients.<a href="#_ftn34" name="_ftnref34" title="">[34]</a></p><p class="MsoNormal" align="justify"><br> </p>
<p align="justify"></p><h4>Harmonization at European level</h4><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" align="justify">It is crystal clear that multiple
national disparities exist in the regulation of agents. Hence, I believe a
streamlined uniform regulatory framework is needed at the European level and,
as such, could be put in place by UEFA’s FAs.</p>
<h5 class="xmsonormal" align="justify"><u>FAs Partnership</u><br></h5><p class="xmsonormal" align="justify">As football’s transfer money and underlying intermediaries’ commission
fees are mostly concentrated in Europe, it should be underscored that consolidated
RWI at the level of all European FAs would provide a
more potent regulatory space and <a href="http://www.asser.nl/SportsLaw/Blog/post/de-or-re-regulating-the-middlemen-the-dfb-s-regulation-of-intermediaries-under-eu-law-scrutiny-at-the-olg-frankfurt-by-antoine-duval-and-kester-mekenkamp">countervail “FIFA’s regulatory
relinquishment</a>”.</p>
<p class="xmsonormal" align="justify">As FIFA switched the onus to FAs, some of them could come
together and become
embroiled in enforcing an enhanced monitoring system
and stricter conditions of access to the profession. This has also been
supported by the <a href="http://webcache.googleusercontent.com/search?q=cache:uvBz6IBPooEJ:ec.europa.eu/social/BlobServlet%3Fmode%3Ddsw%26docId%3D11799%26langId%3Den+&amp;cd=1&amp;hl=de&amp;ct=clnk&amp;gl=lu">EU Sectoral Social Dialogue
Committee for Professional Football</a>, which formulated that such harmonized
European policy is the desirable next step for a better regulatory oversight of
agents. Such partnership could be a laudable response
to the calls for a centralized and harmonized mandatory licensing system. It
should be done in <a href="http://ec.europa.eu/assets/eac/sport/library/studies/study-sports-agents-in-eu.pdf">cooperation with the EFAA</a>, so as to take into
account the agents’ perspective and likely facilitate adherence to the
regulations.</p>
<p class="xmsonormal" align="justify">In this respect, it would be prudent to follow the examples of other Sports
Associations. For example, <a href="http://ec.europa.eu/assets/eac/sport/library/studies/study-sports-agents-in-eu.pdf">FIBA when formulating effective regulations
pertaining to agents promoted harmonization while involving the agents through consultation
of AEBA</a>. Pursuant to
the <a href="https://ec.europa.eu/sport/sites/sport/files/report-transfer-of-players-2018-en.pdf">latest EC Report</a>, the <a href="https://nflpaweb.blob.core.windows.net/media/Default/PDFs/Agents/RegulationsAmendedAugust2016.pdf">National Basketball Players
Association (“NBPA”) Regulations</a> could also be considered as an example to
follow, as they enhance the “professionalization” of agents and are based on a
mandatory licensing&nbsp;system while setting accomplished higher education as
an indispensable condition. The NFL, on the other
side of the Atlantic, is also an interesting example as it requires a
university degree or sufficient negotiating experience of minimum 7 years.</p>
<p class="xmsonormal" align="justify">As
it is generally felt that the <a href="https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/17430437.2018.1400767">agents’ business is “unethical,
complex and deceptive”</a>, thus stringent conditions should be imposed to enter
the profession. A qualitative selection process is indispensable. Players must
be able to rely on agents equipped with the necessary skills and knowledge. FAs
should look back at the <a href="https://publications.europa.eu/en/publication-detail/-/publication/86f75d97-c56c-4231-b942-bb315823d2d2/language-en"><i>Piau</i> case</a> where the compulsory licensing
system was duly endorsed as legitimate by the then Court of First Instance of
the EU, <i>inter alia</i>, on the basis that
it was necessary to introduce “professionalism and ethical standards to protect
players whose careers are short”.</p>
<p align="justify"></p><h5><u>UEFA</u></h5><p></p>
<p class="xmsonormal" align="justify">On a separate note, UEFA, as it claims to operate in a
<a href="https://www.uefa.com/insideuefa/about-uefa/eleven-values/index.html?redirectFromOrg=true">spirit of consensus with all its
stakeholders</a>, has to be the leading frontrunner of a harmonised regulation. In the
framework of Article 165 TFEU and UEFA’s conditional supervised autonomy<a href="#_ftn35" name="_ftnref35" title="">[35]</a>, this could be done in
dialogue with the EC that possesses coordination competence with regard to
sport, so as to ensure that potential new regulations can resist challenges on
grounds of restraint of trade and alleged infringements of EU law. The <a href="https://www.sportbusiness.com/sport-news/uefa-and-european-commission-pledge-tackle-transfer-market-issues">Arrangement for Cooperation signed
by the UEFA and EC</a> earlier in February 2018 could be a good starting
point going forward.</p><p class="xmsonormal" align="justify"><br></p>
<h4 class="xmsonormal" align="justify">Conclusions <br></h4>
<p class="xmsonormal" align="justify">It is unequivocal that FIFA’s RWI advent has had as a
main repercussion the deregulation of the industry, or better put, the granting
of autonomy to the FAs to regulate said industry using the minimum standards as
the cornerstone. The case study, though, evidences that important disparities
exist between crucial provisions of the various European FAs’ RWI, which leads
to compounding practical and ethical problems and to higher risks of forum
shopping.&nbsp;
</p><p class="xmsonormal" align="justify">It is forthwith conspicuous that such disparities
create challenges, which could be duly faced, first and foremost, by accepting that agents are
inherent to the <i>mercato</i> and, as
previously alluded, by taking account of their fiduciary duty. <i>Ergo</i>, it is contingent upon European FAs, in the framework of UEFA, to cooperate so as to adopt
a robust unified regime that will bring forward sweeping and streamlined changes
to the profession. To do so, agents’ should be consulted and respected, as
in the modern era of professional football, “they are the oil that keeps the
wheels of international football in motion.”<a href="#_ftn36" name="_ftnref36" title="">[36]</a></p>
<hr width="33%" size="1" align="justify">
<p id="ftn1" align="justify">
</p><p class="MsoFootnoteText" align="justify"><a href="#_ftnref1" name="_ftn1" title="">[1]</a> WALTER T. CHAMPION,
“Attorneys <i>Qua</i> Sports Agents: An
Ethical Conundrum” (1997) <i>7 </i>Marquette
Sports Law Journal<i> </i>349, 350.</p>
<p align="justify"></p>
<p id="ftn2" align="justify">
</p><p class="xmsonormal" align="justify"><a href="#_ftnref2" name="_ftn2" title="">[2]</a> The term “agent” will be used, as it constitutes the international
jargon.</p>
<p align="justify"></p>
<p id="ftn3" align="justify">
</p><p class="MsoFootnoteText" align="justify"><a href="#_ftnref3" name="_ftn3" title="">[3]</a> 2015
FIFA RWI, Definition of an intermediary.</p>
<p align="justify"></p>
<p id="ftn4" align="justify">
</p><p class="MsoFootnoteText" align="justify"><a href="#_ftnref4" name="_ftn4" title="">[4]</a> 2015
FIFA RWI, Preamble.</p>
<p align="justify"></p>
<p id="ftn5" align="justify">
</p><p class="MsoFootnoteText" align="justify"><a href="#_ftnref5" name="_ftn5" title="">[5]</a> 2015
FIFA RWI, Article 10.</p>
<p align="justify"></p>
<p id="ftn6" align="justify">
</p><p class="MsoFootnoteText" align="justify"><a href="#_ftnref6" name="_ftn6" title="">[6]</a> JUAN DE DIOS CRESPO and PAOLO TORCHETTI, “Limiting
intermediaries’ fees and enhancing fiduciary duty” [2018] World<i> </i>Sports Advocate 11, 12.</p>
<p align="justify"></p>
<p id="ftn7" align="justify">
</p><p class="MsoFootnoteText" align="justify"><a href="#_ftnref7" name="_ftn7" title="">[7]</a> 2015
FIFA RWI, Articles 3 and 6(1).</p>
<p align="justify"></p>
<p id="ftn8" align="justify">
</p><p class="MsoFootnoteText" align="justify"><a href="#_ftnref8" name="_ftn8" title="">[8]</a> 2015
FIFA RWI, Preamble.</p>
<p align="justify"></p>
<p id="ftn9" align="justify">
</p><p class="MsoFootnoteText" align="justify"><a href="#_ftnref9" name="_ftn9" title="">[9]</a> JUAN DE DIOS CRESPO and PAOLO TORCHETTI, “FIFA’s
new Regulations on Working with Intermediaries” [2015]<i> </i>Football Legal 36.</p>
<p align="justify"></p>
<p id="ftn10" align="justify">
</p><p class="MsoFootnoteText" align="justify"><a href="#_ftnref10" name="_ftn10" title="">[10]</a> Annex 11 to the
URBSFA Regulations, Article 4 [1.3]; The FA website, <i>Intermediaries Registration</i> [online]. Available at: <a href="http://www.thefa.com/football-rules-governance/policies/intermediaries/intermediaries-registration">http://www.thefa.com/football-rules-governance/policies/intermediaries/intermediaries-registration</a> [accessed
on 1 May 2018]; Code du Sport, Article L.222-7; FIGC, Regolamento per i Servizi
di Procuratore Sportivo, Art. 4(1), 4(3) and 5; KNVB Regulations, Article 2(6);
PFF Regulations, Article 7(2); RFEF Regulations, Article 7.</p>
<p align="justify"></p>
<p id="ftn11" align="justify">
</p><p class="MsoFootnoteText" align="justify"><a href="#_ftnref11" name="_ftn11" title="">[11]</a> JUAN DE DIOS CRESPO and PAOLO TORCHETTI, “FIFA’s
new Regulations on Working with Intermediaries” [2015]<i> </i>Football Legal 37; ORNELLA DESIREE BELLIA “FIFA
Regulations on Working with Intermediaries: Analysis from the perspective of
the clubs” in MICHELE COLUCCI (ed) <i>The
FIFA Regulations on Working with Intermediaries, Implementation at National
Level</i> (2<sup>nd</sup> ed., International Sports Law and Policy Bulletin
1/2016) 57-66, 59.</p>
<p align="justify"></p>
<p id="ftn12" align="justify">
</p><p class="MsoFootnoteText" align="justify"><a href="#_ftnref12" name="_ftn12" title="">[12]</a> Code du Sport,
Article L.222-7.</p>
<p align="justify"></p>
<p id="ftn13" align="justify">
</p><p class="MsoFootnoteText" align="justify"><a href="#_ftnref13" name="_ftn13" title="">[13]</a> RFEF
Regulations, Article 4.</p>
<p align="justify"></p>
<p id="ftn14" align="justify">
</p><p class="MsoFootnoteText" align="justify"><a href="#_ftnref14" name="_ftn14" title="">[14]</a> IAN LYNAM and JONATHAN ELLIS, “Players’ Agents”, in ADAM LEWIS QC
and JONATHAN TAYLOR (eds), <i>Sports: Law and Practice </i>(3rd edition, BLOOMSBURY 2016), 1418 –
1478, 1420.</p>
<p align="justify"></p>
<p id="ftn15" align="justify">
</p><p class="MsoFootnoteText" align="justify"><a href="#_ftnref15" name="_ftn15" title="">[15]</a> SALEH ALOBEILDI, “FIFA’s
RWI – Historical overview” [2015] Football Legal 30.</p>
<p align="justify"></p>
<p id="ftn16" align="justify">
</p><p class="MsoFootnoteText" align="justify"><a href="#_ftnref16" name="_ftn16" title="">[16]</a> CAS 2006/A//1019
<i>G. v. O</i>., award of 5 December 2006
(anonymized) [11].</p>
<p align="justify"></p>
<p id="ftn17" align="justify">
</p><p class="MsoFootnoteText" align="justify"><a href="#_ftnref17" name="_ftn17" title="">[17]</a> 2015 FIFA
RWI, Article 7(3).</p>
<p align="justify"></p>
<p id="ftn18" align="justify">
</p><p class="MsoFootnoteText" align="justify"><a href="#_ftnref18" name="_ftn18" title="">[18]</a> Annex 11 to the
URBSFA Regulations, Article 8 [3]; FA Regulations, Rule C (11); FIGC,
Regolamento per i Servizi di Procuratore Sportivo, Art. 6; KNVB Regulations,
Article 8(6).</p>
<p align="justify"></p>
<p id="ftn19" align="justify">
</p><p class="MsoFootnoteText" align="justify"><a href="#_ftnref19" name="_ftn19" title="">[19]</a> Code du Sport,
Article L. 222-17&nbsp;; DFB Regulations, Section 7.1-7.2; PFF Regulations,
Article 11&nbsp;; In Spain no remuneration cap has been prescribed.</p>
<p align="justify"></p>
<p id="ftn20" align="justify">
</p><p class="MsoFootnoteText" align="justify"><a href="#_ftnref20" name="_ftn20" title="">[20]</a> 2015
FIFA RWI, Article 2(2).</p>
<p align="justify"></p>
<p id="ftn21" align="justify">
</p><p class="MsoFootnoteText" align="justify"><a href="#_ftnref21" name="_ftn21" title="">[21]</a> Annex 11 to the
URBSFA Regulations, Article 9 [3]; FA Regulations, Rule E (2) a-c; DFB
Regulations, Article 8; FIGC, Regolamento per i Servizi di Procuratore
Sportivo, Art. 7; KNBV Regulations, Article 4; RFEF
Regulations, Article 12.</p>
<p align="justify"></p>
<p id="ftn22" align="justify">
</p><p class="MsoFootnoteText" align="justify"><a href="#_ftnref22" name="_ftn22" title="">[22]</a> CAS
2012/A/2988, <i>PFC CSKA Sofia v. Loic
Bensaid</i> (award of 14 June 2013) paras 74, 82 and 101.</p>
<p align="justify"></p>
<p id="ftn23" align="justify">
</p><p class="MsoFootnoteText" align="justify"><a href="#_ftnref23" name="_ftn23" title="">[23]</a> Code du Sport,
Article L.222-17.</p>
<p align="justify"></p>
<p id="ftn24" align="justify">
</p><p class="MsoFootnoteText" align="justify"><a href="#_ftnref24" name="_ftn24" title="">[24]</a> PFF Regulations,
Article 5(3).</p>
<p align="justify"></p>
<p id="ftn25" align="justify">
</p><p class="MsoFootnoteText" align="justify"><a href="#_ftnref25" name="_ftn25" title="">[25]</a> FA Regulations,
Rule E (2) d.</p>
<p align="justify"></p>
<p id="ftn26" align="justify">
</p><p class="MsoFootnoteText" align="justify"><a href="#_ftnref26" name="_ftn26" title="">[26]</a> Annex 11 to the
URBSFA Regulations, Article 8 [8]; FA Regulations, Art. C (10)&nbsp;; Code
du Sport, Article L.222-5; DFB Regulations, Art. 7.7; KNVB Regulations, Article
8(7); RFEF Regulations, Article 10.</p>
<p align="justify"></p>
<p id="ftn27" align="justify">
</p><p class="MsoFootnoteText" align="justify"><a href="#_ftnref27" name="_ftn27" title="">[27]</a> PFF Regulations,
Article 5(4); The Physical Activity and Sports Basic Law (“PASBL”) or Law no.
5/2007, Article 37(2).</p>
<p align="justify"></p>
<p id="ftn28" align="justify">
</p><p class="MsoFootnoteText" align="justify"><a href="#_ftnref28" name="_ftn28" title="">[28]</a> SALVATORE CIVALE and MICHELE COLUCCI, “The FIGC Regulations on Intermediaries” in MICHELE COLUCCI
(ed) <i>The FIFA Regulations on Working with
Intermediaries, Implementation at National Level</i> (2<sup>nd</sup> ed.,
International Sports Law and Policy Bulletin 1/2016) 329-338, 335.</p>
<p align="justify"></p>
<p id="ftn29" align="justify">
</p><p class="MsoFootnoteText" align="justify"><a href="#_ftnref29" name="_ftn29" title="">[29]</a> JEAN-MICHEL MARMAYOU, “EU Law and Principles applied to
FIFA Regulations” in MICHELE COLUCCI (ed) <i>The
FIFA Regulations on Working with Intermediaries, Implementation at National
Level</i> (2<sup>nd</sup> ed., International Sports Law and Policy Bulletin
1/2016) 75-112, 91.</p>
<p align="justify"></p>
<p id="ftn30" align="justify">
</p><p class="MsoFootnoteText" align="justify"><a href="#_ftnref30" name="_ftn30" title="">[30]</a> ROBERTO BRANCO MARTINS, “FIFA’s RWI – Agents’ perspective” [2015] Football
Legal 50.</p>
<p align="justify"></p>
<p id="ftn31" align="justify">
</p><p class="MsoFootnoteText" align="justify"><a href="#_ftnref31" name="_ftn31" title="">[31]</a> The
judge supported his argumentation by making reference to the obsolete FIFA
Regulations, which stipulated that representation contracts were limited to a
maximum two-year term, attaching to said agreement a unique character.</p>
<p align="justify"></p>
<p id="ftn32" align="justify">
</p><p class="MsoFootnoteText" align="justify"><a href="#_ftnref32" name="_ftn32" title="">[32]</a> FA Regulations,
Art. B (10); FIGC, Regolamento per i Servizi di Procuratore Sportivo, Art. 5; PFF
Regulations, Article 9(2) §c; RFEF Regulations,
Article 8(4).</p>
<p align="justify"></p>
<p id="ftn33" align="justify">
</p><p class="MsoFootnoteText" align="justify"><a href="#_ftnref33" name="_ftn33" title="">[33]</a> CAS 2008/A/1665,
<i>J. v. Udinese Calcio S.p.A,</i> (award of
19 May 2009) para 54.</p>
<p align="justify"></p>
<p id="ftn34" align="justify">
</p><p class="MsoFootnoteText" align="justify"><a href="#_ftnref34" name="_ftn34" title="">[34]</a> WIL VAN MEGEN, “The FIFA Regulations on Intermediaries: The
players’ point of view” in MICHELE COLUCCI (ed) <i>The
FIFA Regulations on Working with Intermediaries, Implementation at National
Level</i> (2<sup>nd</sup> ed., International Sports Law and Policy Bulletin
1/2016) 67-74, 74.</p>
<p align="justify"></p>
<p id="ftn35" align="justify">
</p><p class="MsoFootnoteText" align="justify"><a href="#_ftnref35" name="_ftn35" title="">[35]</a> BORJA GARCIA,
“Sport governance after the White Paper: the demise of the European model?”
(2009) 1:3 International Journal of Sport Policy 267; It was firstly stated in
the <i>Meca-Medina</i> case [47]: “<i>restrictions imposed by sports federations
must be limited to what is necessary to ensure the proper conduct of
competitive sport</i>”.</p>
<p align="justify"></p>
<p id="ftn36" align="justify">
</p><p class="MsoFootnoteText" align="justify"><a href="#_ftnref36" name="_ftn36" title="">[36]</a> ROBERTO BRANCO MARTINS and GREGOR
REITER,
“Players’ Agents: Past, Present … Future?” (2010) 1-2 The International Sports
Law Journal 7.</p>
<p></p>
<p></p>
http://www.asser.nl/SportsLaw/Blog/post/football-intermediaries-would-a-european-centralized-licensing-system-be-a-sustainable-solution-by-panagiotis-roumeliotis
http://www.asser.nl/SportsLaw/Blog/post/football-intermediaries-would-a-european-centralized-licensing-system-be-a-sustainable-solution-by-panagiotis-roumeliotis#commenthttp://www.asser.nl/SportsLaw/Blog/post.aspx?id=c779e929-902a-4cb8-99a8-299c15315cffMon, 24 Sep 2018 17:09:00 +0200BlogInternational Sports Law CommentariesInternational Sports Law PublicationsAntoine Duvalhttp://www.asser.nl/SportsLaw/Blog/pingback.axdhttp://www.asser.nl/SportsLaw/Blog/post.aspx?id=c779e929-902a-4cb8-99a8-299c15315cff0http://www.asser.nl/SportsLaw/Blog/trackback.axd?id=c779e929-902a-4cb8-99a8-299c15315cffhttp://www.asser.nl/SportsLaw/Blog/post/football-intermediaries-would-a-european-centralized-licensing-system-be-a-sustainable-solution-by-panagiotis-roumeliotis#commenthttp://www.asser.nl/SportsLaw/Blog/syndication.axd?post=c779e929-902a-4cb8-99a8-299c15315cffNew Article Published! The Olympic Charter: A Transnational Constitution Without a State?<p>My latest article has just been published online by the <a href="https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/journal/14676478">Journal of Law and Society</a>. It is available open access <a href="https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/jols.12112">here</a>. <br></p><p align="justify">The article stems from a conference organised by Jiri Priban from Cardiff University on Gunther Teubner's idea of societal constitutionalism applied to transnational regimes. My role was to test whether his descriptive and normative framework was readily applicable to the <i>lex sportiva</i>, and in particular its overarching "constitutional" text: the Olympic Charter.</p><p align="justify">As you will see my conclusion is mixed. I find that the Olympic Charter (OC) displays many constitutional features and is even able to regularly defend successfully its autonomy vis-à-vis national states and their laws. However, while I document some inception of limitative constitutional rules, such as the ban on discrimination or the principle of fair play, I also conclude that those have limited impact in practice. While constitutional changes to the OC can be triggered by scandal, resistance and contestation, as illustrated by the emergence of environmental concerns after the Albertville Games and the governance reshuffle of the IOC after the Salt Lake City scandal, I am also sceptical that these were sufficient to tackle the underlying problems, as became obvious with the unmatched environmental damage caused by the Sotchi Games in 2014. <br></p><p align="justify">In conclusion, more than sporadic public outrage, I believe that the intervention of national law and, even more, European Union law will be capable and needed to rein the Olympic regime and impose external constitutional constraints on its (at least sometimes) destructive operations. <br></p><p align="justify">Here is the abstract of the <a href="https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/jols.12112">article</a>: <i>This article examines various aspects of Teubner's theory of societal constitutionalism using the lex sportiva as an empirical terrain. The case study focuses on the operation of the Olympic Charter as a transnational constitution of the Olympic movement. It shows that recourse to a constitutional vocabulary is not out of place in qualifying the function and authority of the Charter inside and outside the Olympic movement. Yet, the findings of the case study also nuance some of Teubner's descriptive claims and question his normative strategy.</i><br></p><p align="justify">Good read! (And do not hesitate to share your feedback)</p><p><br></p>http://www.asser.nl/SportsLaw/Blog/post/new-article-published-the-olympic-charter-a-transnational-constitution-without-a-state
http://www.asser.nl/SportsLaw/Blog/post/new-article-published-the-olympic-charter-a-transnational-constitution-without-a-state#commenthttp://www.asser.nl/SportsLaw/Blog/post.aspx?id=bc3da77d-c7fc-4fba-9547-f3276416f691Thu, 19 Jul 2018 11:07:00 +0200International Sports Law MaterialInternational Sports Law PublicationsAntoine Duvalhttp://www.asser.nl/SportsLaw/Blog/pingback.axdhttp://www.asser.nl/SportsLaw/Blog/post.aspx?id=bc3da77d-c7fc-4fba-9547-f3276416f6910http://www.asser.nl/SportsLaw/Blog/trackback.axd?id=bc3da77d-c7fc-4fba-9547-f3276416f691http://www.asser.nl/SportsLaw/Blog/post/new-article-published-the-olympic-charter-a-transnational-constitution-without-a-state#commenthttp://www.asser.nl/SportsLaw/Blog/syndication.axd?post=bc3da77d-c7fc-4fba-9547-f3276416f691International and European Sports Law – Monthly Report – January 2018 - By Tomáš Grell
<p class="MsoNormal" align="justify"><b>Editor's note:</b> This report compiles all relevant news, events and
materials on International and European Sports Law based on the daily coverage
provided on our twitter feed <a href="https://twitter.com/sportslaw_asser">@Sportslaw_asser.</a> You
are invited to complete this survey via the comments section below, feel free
to add links to important cases, documents and articles we might have
overlooked.<b>&nbsp;</b>
</p><p class="MsoNormal" align="justify"><b><br></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" align="justify"><b>The Headlines</b>&nbsp;
</p><p class="MsoNormal" align="justify"><i><u>Anti-doping whereabouts requirements declared
compatible with the athletes' right to privacy and family life</u></i></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" align="justify">On 18 January 2018,
the European Court of Human Rights rendered a <a href="https://hudoc.echr.coe.int/eng#{&quot;itemid&quot;:[&quot;001-180276&quot;]}">judgment</a> with important consequences for the world of sport in
general and the anti-doping regime in particular. The Strasbourg-based court
was called upon to decide whether the <a href="https://www.wada-ama.org/en/questions-answers/whereabouts">anti-doping whereabouts system</a> – which requires that a limited number of top elite
athletes provide their National Anti-Doping Organisation or International
Federation with regular information about their location, including identifying
for each day one specific 60-minute time slot where the athlete will be
available for testing at a pre-determined location – is compatible with the
athletes' right to private and family life under Article 8 of the <a href="http://www.echr.coe.int/Documents/Convention_ENG.pdf">European Convention on Human Rights</a> and their freedom of movement pursuant to Article 2
Protocol No. 4 of the Convention. The case was brought by the French cyclist
Jeannie Longo and five French athlete unions that had filed their application
on behalf of 99 professional handball, football, rugby, and basketball players.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal" align="justify">While acknowledging
that the whereabouts requirements clash with the athletes' right to private and
family life, the judges took the view that such a restriction is necessary in
order to protect the health of athletes and ensure a level playing field in
sports competitions. They held that ''<i>the
reduction or removal of the relevant obligations would lead to an increase in
the dangers of doping for the health of sports professionals and of all those
who practise sports, and would be at odds with the European and international
consensus on the need for unannounced testing as part of doping control</i>''. Accordingly,
the judges found no violation of Article 8 of the Convention and, in a similar
vein, ruled that Article 2 Protocol No. 4 of the Convention was not applicable
to the case. </p>
<p class="MsoNormal" align="justify">&nbsp;</p>
<p class="MsoNormal" align="justify"><i><u>Football stakeholders preparing to crack down on
agents' excessive fees</u></i></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" align="justify">It has been a
record-breaking January transfer window with Premier League clubs having spent
an eye-watering <a href="http://www.bbc.com/sport/football/42881234">£430 million</a> on signing new acquisitions. These spiralling
transfer fees enable football agents, nowadays also called intermediaries, to
charge impressive sums for their services. However, this might soon no longer
be the case as the main stakeholders in European football are preparing to take
action. UEFA, FIFPro, the European Club Association and the European
Professional Football Leagues acknowledge in their <a href="http://www.uefa.com/MultimediaFiles/Download/uefaorg/FinancialFairPlay/02/53/09/85/2530985_DOWNLOAD.pdf">joint resolution</a> that the <a href="https://www.fifa.com/mm/document/affederation/administration/02/36/77/63/regulationsonworkingwithintermediariesii_neutral.pdf">2015 FIFA Regulations on Working with Intermediaries</a> failed to address serious concerns in relation to the
activities of intermediaries/agents. They recognise in broad terms that a more
effective regulatory framework is needed and call among other things for a
reasonable and proportionate cap on fees for intermediaries/agents, enhanced
transparency and accountability, or stronger provisions to protect minors.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal" align="justify">&nbsp;</p>
<p class="MsoNormal" align="justify"><i><u>The CAS award in Joseph Odartei Lamptey v. FIFA</u></i>&nbsp;
</p><p class="MsoNormal" align="justify">On 15 January 2018,
FIFA published on its website an <a href="http://resources.fifa.com/mm/document/affederation/footballgovernance/02/92/63/65/cas2017-a-5173josephodarteilampteyv.fifa_neutral.pdf">arbitral award</a> delivered on 4 August 2017 by the Court of
Arbitration for Sport (<b><i>CAS</i></b>) in the dispute between the
Ghanian football referee Joseph Odartei Lamptey and FIFA. The CAS sided with
FIFA and dismissed the appeal filed by Mr Lamptey against an earlier decision
of the FIFA Appeal Committee which (i) found him to have violated Article 69(1)
of the <a href="http://resources.fifa.com/mm/document/affederation/administration/50/02/75/fifadisciplinarycode2017en_neutral.pdf">FIFA Disciplinary Code</a> as he unlawfully influenced the 2018 World Cup
qualifying match between South Africa and Senegal that took place on 12
November 2016; (ii) as a consequence, banned him for life from taking part in
any football-related activity; and (iii) ordered the match in question to be
replayed. In reaching its conclusion, the CAS relied heavily on multiple
reports of irregular betting activities that significantly deviated from usual
market developments.&nbsp; </p>
<p class="MsoNormal" align="justify">&nbsp;</p>
<p class="MsoNormal" align="justify"><b>Sports Law Related Decisions</b></p>
<ul><li>CAS – <a href="http://resources.fifa.com/mm/document/affederation/footballgovernance/02/92/63/65/cas2017-a-5173josephodarteilampteyv.fifa_neutral.pdf">Award delivered in the arbitration between Joseph
Odartei Lamptey and FIFA</a></li><li>CAS – <a href="http://www.tas-cas.org/fileadmin/user_upload/Award_OG_18-01.pdf">Award delivered in the arbitration between the Virgin
Islands Olympic Committee and the International Olympic Committee</a></li><li>CAS – <a href="http://www.tas-cas.org/fileadmin/user_upload/Award__FINAL___5296_.pdf">Award delivered in the arbitration between WADA and
Gil Roberts</a></li><li>European
Court of Human Rights – <a href="https://hudoc.echr.coe.int/eng#%7B%22documentcollectionid2%22:%5B%22GRANDCHAMBER%22,%22CHAMBER%22%5D,%22itemid%22:%5B%22001-180442%22%5D%7D">Judgment on the compatibility of the anti-doping
whereabouts rules with the fundamental rights of athletes</a></li></ul>
<br>
<p class="MsoNormal" align="justify"><b>Official Documents and Press Releases</b></p>
<ul><li>CAS – <a href="http://www.tas-cas.org/fileadmin/user_upload/Media_Release__5500.....pdf">CAS declares Lao Toyota Football Club eligible to
participate in the 2018 AFC Cup</a></li><li>CAS – <a href="http://www.tas-cas.org/fileadmin/user_upload/Media_Release_5476.pdf">CAS does not have jurisdiction to entertain the appeal
filed by the International Bobsleigh and Skeleton Federatio</a></li><li>CAS – <a href="http://www.tas-cas.org/fileadmin/user_upload/Media_Release_PyeongChang_2018_II.pdf">CAS has opened its temporary offices on the site of
the Pyeongchang Winter Olympic Games</a></li><li>CAS –<b> </b><a href="http://www.tas-cas.org/fileadmin/user_upload/Media_Release__IOC_Russian_Athlete_Appeals_09.01.18.pdf">CAS has registered 42 appeals filed by Russian
athletes against the Disciplinary Commission of the International Olympic
Committee</a></li><li>CAS – <a href="http://www.tas-cas.org/fileadmin/user_upload/Media_Release_3759_Jan_2018.pdf">Dutee Chand case: The application of the IAAF Hyperandrogenism
Regulations remain suspended</a></li><li>Council
of Europe – <a href="https://www.coe.int/en/web/portal/-/fifa-and-the-council-of-europe-to-promote-human-rights?desktop=false">FIFA and the Council of Europe to promote human rights</a></li><li>FIFA – <a href="https://www.fifatms.com/wp-content/uploads/dlm_uploads/2018/01/GTM_2018.pdf">Global Transfer Market Report: A review of all
international football transfers in 2017</a></li><li>FIFA – <a href="http://resources.fifa.com/mm/document/affederation/administration/02/92/71/96/circularno.1616-guidanceonthebidrulesofconductfortheprocesstoselectthehost(s)ofthe2026fifaworldcup%AA_neutral.pdf">Guidance on the Bid Rules of Conduct for the process
to select the host(s) of the 2026 FIFA World Cup</a></li><li>FIFA –<b> </b><a href="http://www.fifa.com/governance/news/y=2018/m=1/news=normalisation-committee-appointed-for-the-kuwait-fa-2926734.html">Normalisation committee appointed for the Kuwait FA</a></li><li>FIFA –<b> </b><a href="http://www.fifa.com/governance/news/y=2018/m=1/news=fifa-statement-on-cas-decision-relating-to-match-official-joseph-odart-2926374.html">Statement on CAS decision relating to match official
Joseph Odartei Lamptey</a></li><li>FIFPro
– <a href="https://www.fifpro.org/news/belounis-settles-with-qatar-club/en/">Belounis settles with Qatari club</a></li><li>IOC – <a href="https://www.olympic.org/news/international-testing-agency-ita-moves-closer-to-being-operational">International Testing Agency (ITA) moves closer to
being operational</a></li><li>IOC –<b> </b><a href="https://www.olympic.org/news/ioc-issues-conduct-guidelines-for-olympic-athlete-from-russia-delegation">IOC issues Conduct Guidelines for Olympic Athlete from
Russia delegation</a></li><li>IOC – <a href="https://www.olympic.org/news/olympic-athlete-from-russia-oar-invitation-review-panel-releases-list-of-information-used-as-part-of-its-deliberations">Olympic Athlete from Russia (OAR) Invitation Review
Panel releases list of information used as part of its deliberations</a></li><li>IOC –<b> </b><a href="https://www.olympic.org/news/press-releases">Reduced pool of Russian athletes and officials who can
be considered for invitation to Pyeongchang 2018 determined</a></li><li>Tennis
Integrity Unit –<b> </b><a href="http://www.tennisintegrityunit.com/annual-review/2017/">Annual Review 2017</a></li><li>UEFA – <a href="https://www.uefa.com/MultimediaFiles/Download/OfficialDocument/uefaorg/Clublicensing/02/53/00/22/2530022_DOWNLOAD.pdf">Club Licensing Benchmarking Report: Financial Year
2016</a></li><li>UEFA – <a href="http://www.uefa.com/MultimediaFiles/Download/uefaorg/FinancialFairPlay/02/53/09/85/2530985_DOWNLOAD.pdf">EU Sectoral Social Dialogue Committee for Professional
Football: Resolution on intermediaries/agents</a></li><li>UEFA –<b> </b><a href="https://www.uefa.com/insideuefa/mediaservices/mediareleases/newsid=2530984.html#/">Professional Football Strategy Council meets in Nyon</a></li><li>UEFA – <a href="https://www.uefa.com/insideuefa/protecting-the-game/integrity/news/newsid=2529210.html?rss=2529210+UEFA+bans+six+Malta+under-21+players+for+match-fixing+offences#/">UEFA bans six Malta under-21 players for match-fixing
offences</a></li><li>WADA – <a href="https://www.wada-ama.org/en/media/news/2017-12/WADA-announces-2018-List-in-force#.WkpGD-uaUak.twitter">WADA announces that 2018 List of Prohibited Substances
and Methods is now in force</a></li><li>WADA –<b> </b><a href="https://www.wada-ama.org/en/media/news/2018-01/wada-investigates-potential-integrity-issue-with-new-generation-bereg-kit-geneva">WADA investigates potential integrity issue with new
generation BEREG-KIT Geneva security bottles</a></li><li>WADA –<b> </b><a href="https://www.wada-ama.org/en/media/news/2018-01/save-the-date-wadas-fifth-world-conference-on-doping-in-sport-to-be-held-in">WADA's fifth World Conference on Doping in Sport to be
held in November 2019</a></li></ul>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" align="justify"><b>&nbsp;</b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" align="justify"><b>In the news</b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" align="justify"><i>Doping</i></p><ul><li>Andrew
Aloia <a href="http://www.bbc.com/sport/rugby-league/42558028">Ryan Bailey: Ex-England and Great Britain prop avoids
ban after 'landmark' drugs case</a></li><li>Nick
Butler <a href="https://www.insidethegames.biz/articles/1060298/european-court-dismisses-claim-anti-doping-whereabouts-system-violates-human-rights">European Court dismisses claim anti-doping whereabouts
system violates human rights</a></li><li>Nick
Butler <a href="https://www.insidethegames.biz/articles/1060287/nados-criticise-ioc-for-not-revealing-criteria-for-russian-eligibility-at-pyeongchang-2018">NADOs criticise IOC for not revealing criteria for
Russian eligibility at Pyeongchang 2018</a></li><li>Nick
Butler <a href="https://www.insidethegames.biz/articles/1059728/russian-sliders-still-eligible-to-compete-in-ibsf-events-after-cas-decide-against-ruling">Russian sliders still eligible to compete in IBSF
events after CAS decide against ruling</a></li><li>Daniel Etchells
<a href="https://www.insidethegames.biz/articles/1060158/russia-work-on-sanctions-against-wada-officials-in-response-to-pyeongchang-2018-ban#.Wly7qFfKVQY.twitter">Russia work on sanctions against WADA officials in
response to Pyeongchang 2018 ban</a></li><li>Martha
Kelner and Sean Ingle <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2018/jan/30/chris-froome-plea-bargain-drug-test-untrue-sky">Chris Froome says report of plea bargain over failed
drug test 'completely untrue'</a></li><li>Victor
Mather and Rebecca R. Ruiz <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2018/01/25/sports/olympics/russia-doping.html?rref=collection%2Fbyline%2Frebecca-r.-ruiz&amp;action=click&amp;contentCollection=undefined&amp;region=stream&amp;module=stream_unit&amp;version=latest&amp;contentPlacement=4&amp;pgtype=collection">Russia is barred from Winter Olympics. Russia is
sending 169 athletes to Winter Olympics</a></li><li>Reuters
<a href="https://www.reuters.com/article/us-sport-doping-ioc-bottles/ioc-concerned-about-potential-integrity-issues-with-testing-bottles-idUSKBN1FJ0II">IOC 'concerned' about potential integrity issues with
testing bottles</a></li><li>Rebecca
R. Ruiz <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2018/01/25/sports/gil-roberts-doping-kissing.html">American sprinter used 'passionate kissing' defence in
doping case. And it worked</a></li><li>Rebecca
R. Ruiz <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2018/01/19/sports/olympics/ioc-russia-olympics-doping.html?rref=collection%2Fbyline%2Frebecca-r.-ruiz&amp;action=click&amp;contentCollection=undefined&amp;region=stream&amp;module=stream_unit&amp;version=latest&amp;contentPlacement=6&amp;pgtype=collec">IOC clears nearly 400 Russians to compete in Winter
Games</a></li><li>Rebecca
R. Ruiz <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2018/01/29/sports/paralympics-russia-doping.html?rref=collection%2Fbyline%2Frebecca-r.-ruiz&amp;action=click&amp;contentCollection=undefined&amp;region=stream&amp;module=stream_unit&amp;version=latest&amp;contentPlacement=3&amp;pgtype=collection&amp;mtrre">Russia is banned from Paralympics, again, for doping</a></li></ul>
<p class="MsoNormal" align="justify"><i>Football</i></p><ul><li>Global
Legal Post <a href="http://www.globallegalpost.com/big-stories/mainz-05-obtains-landmark-ruling-on-tempory-contracts-47844354/">Mainz 05 obtains landmark ruling on temporary
contracts</a></li><li>Martha
Kelner <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/football/2018/jan/22/chelsea-racism-allegation-graham-rix-gwyn-williams-legal-action">Chelsea racism allegations: Four more players to take
legal action against club</a></li><li>Thomas
Klein <a href="http://www.dw.com/en/bayern-munich-cannot-remain-silent/a-42008482?maca=en-Twitter-sharing">Training in Qatar: 'Bayern Munich cannot remain silent'</a></li><li>Tariq
Panja <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2018/01/03/sports/worldcup/world-cup-russia-doping.html?smid=tw-nytsports&amp;smtyp=cur">Critics say FIFA is stalling a doping inquiry as World
Cup nears</a></li><li>Sky
Sports <a href="http://www.skysports.com/football/news/11095/11221189/michel-platini-takes-fifa-ban-appeal-to-european-court-of-human-rights">Michel Platini takes FIFA ban appeal to European Court
of Human Rights</a></li><li>Sky
Sports <a href="http://www.skysports.com/football/news/11095/11202492/prosecutors-investigating-fifa-payment-to-head-of-austrian-football-federation">Prosecutors investigating FIFA payment to head of
Austrian Football Federation</a></li></ul>
<p class="MsoNormal" align="justify"><i>Other</i></p>
<ul><li>David
Conn <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2018/jan/04/lta-tennis-review-after-coach-abuse-case">The Lawn Tennis Association launches review into
procedural failings over jailed tennis coach</a></li><li>Mike
Dunne <a href="https://www.irishexaminer.com/sport/racing/show-jumping-awaits-competition-body-ruling-465220.html">Show jumping awaits competition body ruling</a></li><li>SportBusiness
International <a href="https://www.sportbusiness.com/sport-news/force-india-sauber-withdraw-eu-complaint-against-formula-one">Force India, Sauber witdraw EU complaint against
Formula One</a></li></ul>
<p class="MsoNormal" align="justify"><b>&nbsp;</b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" align="justify"><b>Blog</b>&nbsp;
</p><p class="MsoNormal" align="justify"><i>Asser International Sports Law Blog</i></p><ul><li>Stefano Bastianon <a href="http://www.asser.nl/SportsLaw/Blog/post/the-isu-commission-s-decision-and-the-slippery-side-of-eligibility-rules-by-stefano-bastianon-university-of-bergamo">The ISU Commission's Decision and the Slipery Side of Eligibility Rules</a></li><li>Tomáš Grell <a href="http://www.asser.nl/SportsLaw/Blog/post/human-rights-as-selection-criteria-in-bidding-regulations-for-mega-sporting-events-part-ii-fifa-and-comparative-overview-by-tomas-grell">Human Rights as Selection Criteria in
Bidding Regulations for Mega-Sporting Events – Part II: FIFA and Comparative
Overview</a></li></ul>
<p class="MsoNormal" align="justify"><i>Law in Sport</i></p>
<ul><li>Nick
Fitzpatrick and Ruth Hoy <a href="https://www.lawinsport.com/topics/articles/item/the-major-global-challenges-in-managing-data-to-protect-sporting-integrity">The major global challenges in managing data to
protect sporting integrity</a></li><li>Graham
Gilbert <a href="https://www.lawinsport.com/topics/articles/item/athlete-cocaine-use-the-cases-of-dale-swift-graham-gibbons-dan-evans">Athlete cocaine use: The cases of Dale Swift, Graham
Gibbons and Dan Evans</a></li><li>Alex
Haffner <a href="https://www.lawinsport.com/topics/articles/item/why-the-international-skating-union-was-found-in-breach-of-eu-competition-law">Why the International Skating Union was found in
breach of EU competition law</a></li><li>Manali
Kulkarni and Sean Cottrell <a href="https://www.lawinsport.com/topics/articles/item/key-sports-law-cases-and-developments-to-watch-in-2018-europe-middle-east-africa-asia-and-australia?category_id=112">Key sports law cases and developments to watch in
2018: Europe, Middle East, Africa, Asia and Australia</a></li><li>Manali
Kulkarni and Sean Cottrell <a href="https://www.lawinsport.com/topics/articles/item/key-sports-law-cases-of-2017-europe-middle-east-africa-asia-and-australia?category_id=112">Key sports law cases of 2017: Europe, Middle East,
Africa, Asia and Australia</a></li><li>Nick
Tsatsas <a href="https://www.lawinsport.com/topics/articles/item/will-the-fa-score-with-its-adoption-of-the-rooney-rule">Will the FA score with its adoption of the Rooney
Rule?</a></li><li>Sophie
Wilkinson and Adam Leadercramer <a href="https://www.lawinsport.com/topics/articles/item/key-information-on-the-general-data-protection-regulation-for-the-sports-industry">Key information on the General Data Protection
Regulation for the sports industry</a></li></ul>
<p class="MsoNormal" align="justify"><i>Others</i></p>
<ul><li>Jens
Sejer Andersen <a href="http://playthegame.org/news/comments/2018/056_european-politicians-demand-radical-change-of-sports-governance/?utm_source=Play+the+Game+newsletter&amp;utm_campaign=459b2a296b-EMAIL_CAMPAIGN_2018_01_22&amp;utm_medium=email&amp;utm_term=0_2ff3a776de-459b2a296b-">European politicians demand radical change of sports
governance</a></li><li>Andy
Brown <a href="http://www.sportsintegrityinitiative.com/echr-judgment-fails-consider-alternatives-whereabouts/">ECHR judgment fails to consider alternatives to 'whereabouts'</a></li><li>Braham
Dabscheck <a href="https://theconversation.com/why-djokovic-is-right-to-say-tennis-players-need-a-union-90321?utm_source=twitter&amp;utm_medium=twitterbutton">Why Djokovic is right to say tennis players need a
union</a></li><li>European
Professional Football Leagues <a href="https://mailchi.mp/646949cdbe52/ayq6e6qruz-1161457">Legal Newsletter January 2018</a></li><li>Nick De
Marco <a href="https://www.sportslawbulletin.org/italian-parliament-enacts-new-regulation-football-agents/">Italian parliament enacts new regulation of football
agents</a></li><li>Despina
Mavromati <a href="http://sportlegis.com/sft-judgment-4a_312-2017-football-club-x-v-agent/">SFT Judgment 4A_312/2017: Compatibility of an agent's
commission fee with public policy</a></li><li>David
Owen <a href="http://www.insideworldfootball.com/2018/01/19/david-owen-european-football-cash-magnet-pyramids-base-starting-erode/">European football: A cash magnet, but is the pyramid's
base starting to erode?</a></li><li>Tariq
Panja <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2018/01/28/sports/soccer/african-nations-championship.html?smid=tw-share">At African soccer event, games of cat and mouse</a></li><li>Daisuke
Takahashi <a href="http://lcbackerblog.blogspot.nl/2018/01/daisuke-takahashi-tokyo-olympic.html">Tokyo Olympic Sustainable Sourcing Code and its
grievance mechanism in a Japanese legal context</a></li></ul>
<p class="MsoNormal" align="justify">&nbsp;</p>
<p class="MsoNormal" align="justify"><b>Upcoming Events</b></p><ul><li>16
March – <a href="https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/sports-law-and-business-conference-manchester-tickets-39401863033">Sports Law &amp; Business Conference</a>, Etihad Stadium, Manchester, England</li><li>3-4
July – <a href="http://www.sportandeu.com/2017/11/call-for-papers-2018-conference-at-edge-hill-university/">13<sup>th</sup> Sport &amp; EU Annual Conference</a>, Edge Hill University, England</li></ul>
http://www.asser.nl/SportsLaw/Blog/post/international-and-european-sports-law-monthly-report-january-2018-by-tomas-grell
http://www.asser.nl/SportsLaw/Blog/post/international-and-european-sports-law-monthly-report-january-2018-by-tomas-grell#commenthttp://www.asser.nl/SportsLaw/Blog/post.aspx?id=d7d78a3c-46f1-45f5-b9ae-cedadb909298Wed, 21 Feb 2018 08:02:00 +0200BlogInternational Sports Law CasesInternational Sports Law CommentariesInternational Sports Law EventsInternational Sports Law MaterialInternational Sports Law PublicationsAntoine Duvalhttp://www.asser.nl/SportsLaw/Blog/pingback.axdhttp://www.asser.nl/SportsLaw/Blog/post.aspx?id=d7d78a3c-46f1-45f5-b9ae-cedadb9092986http://www.asser.nl/SportsLaw/Blog/trackback.axd?id=d7d78a3c-46f1-45f5-b9ae-cedadb909298http://www.asser.nl/SportsLaw/Blog/post/international-and-european-sports-law-monthly-report-january-2018-by-tomas-grell#commenthttp://www.asser.nl/SportsLaw/Blog/syndication.axd?post=d7d78a3c-46f1-45f5-b9ae-cedadb909298International and European Sports Law – Monthly Report – December 2017. By Tomáš Grell
<p class="MsoNormal" align="justify"><b>Editor's note:</b> This report compiles all relevant news, events and
materials on International and European Sports Law based on the daily coverage
provided on our twitter feed <a href="https://twitter.com/sportslaw_asser">@Sportslaw_asser.</a> You
are invited to complete this survey via the comments section below, feel free
to add links to important cases, documents and articles we might have
overlooked.
</p><p class="MsoNormal" align="justify"><b>&nbsp;</b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" align="justify"><b>The Headlines</b>&nbsp;
</p><p class="MsoNormal" align="justify"><i><u>The International Skating Union's eligibility rules
declared incompatible with EU competition law</u></i></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" align="justify">On 8 December 2017,
the European Commission <a href="http://europa.eu/rapid/press-release_IP-17-5184_en.htm">announced</a> that it had rendered a decision in the case against
the International Skating Union (<b><i>ISU</i></b>). The Commission upheld the
complaint lodged in October 2015 by two Dutch professional speed skaters <a href="https://twitter.com/marktuitert">Mark Tuitert</a> and <a href="https://twitter.com/nielskerstholt">Niels Kerstholt</a>, represented in this case by <a href="https://twitter.com/BenVanRompuy">Ben Van Rompuy</a> and <a href="https://twitter.com/Ant1Duval">Antoine Duval</a> (you can read their joint statement <a href="http://www.asser.nl/SportsLaw/Blog/post/statement-on-the-european-commission-s-isu-decision-by-ben-van-rompuy-and-antoine-duval">here</a>), and ruled that the ISU's eligibility rules
preventing athletes from participating in speed skating competitions not
approved by the ISU under the threat of severe penalties are in violation of EU
competition law. In particular, the Commission held that these rules restrict
the commercial freedom of (i) athletes who may be deprived of additional source
of income as they are not allowed to participate in speed skating competitions
other than those authorised by the ISU; and (ii) independent organisers who are
unable to attract top athletes. And while the Commission recognised that
sporting rules with restrictive effects might be compatible with EU law if they
pursue a legitimate objective such as the protection of athletes' health and
safety or the protection of the integrity and proper conduct of sport, it found
that the ISU's eligibility rules pursue only its own commercial interests to
the detriment of athletes and independent organisers of speed skating
competitions. The ISU eventually escaped financial sanctions, but it must
modify or abolish its eligibility rules within 90 days; otherwise it would be
liable for non-compliance payments of up to 5% of its average daily turnover. For
more information on this topic, we invite you to read our recent <a href="http://www.asser.nl/SportsLaw/Blog/post/the-isu-commission-s-decision-and-the-slippery-side-of-eligibility-rules-by-stefano-bastianon-university-of-bergamo">blog</a> written by Professor Stefano Bastianon.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal" align="justify">&nbsp;</p>
<p class="MsoNormal" align="justify"><i><u>The International Olympic Committee bans Russia from
the upcoming Winter Olympic Games</u></i></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" align="justify">The world has been
waiting impatiently for the International Olympic Committee's (<b><i>IOC</i></b>)
<a href="https://stillmed.olympic.org/media/Document%20Library/OlympicOrg/IOC/Who-We-Are/Commissions/Disciplinary-Commission/IOC-DC-Schmid/Decision-of-the-IOC-Executive-Board-05-12-2017.pdf#_ga=2.88105691.1381658493.1516102216-1915251872.1489056376">decision</a> on the participation of Russian athletes in the
upcoming 2018 Winter Olympic Games in Pyeongchang. This was finally <a href="https://www.olympic.org/news/ioc-suspends-russian-noc-and-creates-a-path-for-clean-individual-athletes-to-compete-in-pyeongchang-2018-under-the-olympic-flag">communicated</a> on 5 December 2017. Having deliberated on the <a href="https://stillmed.olympic.org/media/Document%20Library/OlympicOrg/IOC/Who-We-Are/Commissions/Disciplinary-Commission/IOC-DC-Schmid/IOC-Disciplinary-Commission-Schmid-Report.pdf#_ga=2.66760174.1381658493.1516102216-1915251872.1489056376">findings of
the Schmid Commission</a>, the
IOC Executive Board decided to suspend the Russian Olympic Committee with immediate
effect, meaning that only those Russian athletes who demonstrate that they had
not benefited from the state-sponsored doping programme will be able to
participate in the Games. Such clean athletes will be allowed to compete under
the Olympic Flag, bearing the name 'Olympic Athlete from Russia (OAR)' on their
uniforms. Further to this, the IOC Executive Board sanctioned several officials
implicated in the manipulation of the anti-doping system in Russia, including Mr
Vitaly Mutko, currently the Deputy Prime Minister of Russia and formerly the
Minister of Sport. Mounting public pressure subsequently forced Mr Mutko to <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/football/2017/dec/27/vitaly-mutko-steps-down-russia-world-cup-organising-committee">step down</a> as head of the Local Organising Committee for the
2018 FIFA World Cup.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal" align="justify">Meanwhile, 21
individual Russian athletes were sanctioned (see <a href="https://www.olympic.org/news/ioc-sanctions-three-russian-athletes-as-part-of-oswald-commission-findings-2017-12-01">here</a>, <a href="https://www.olympic.org/news/ioc-sanctions-six-russian-athletes-and-closes-one-case-as-part-of-oswald-commission-findings">here</a>, <a href="https://www.olympic.org/news/ioc-sanctions-one-russian-athlete-and-closes-one-case-as-part-of-oswald-commission-findings">here</a>, and <a href="https://www.olympic.org/news/ioc-sanctions-11-russian-athletes-as-part-of-oswald-commission-findings">here</a>) in December (in addition to 22 athletes in November)
by the IOC Oswald Commission that is tasked with investigating the alleged
doping violations by Russian athletes at the 2014 Winter Olympic Games in
Sochi. The Oswald Commission also published two full decisions in the cases
against <a href="https://stillmed.olympic.org/media/Document%20Library/OlympicOrg/IOC/Who-We-Are/Commissions/Disciplinary-Commission/2017/SML-029-Decision-Disciplinary-Commission-Evgeniy-BELOV.pdf#_ga=2.125414858.1381658493.1516102216-1915251872.1489056376">Evgeny Belov</a> and <a href="https://stillmed.olympic.org/media/Document%20Library/OlympicOrg/IOC/Who-We-Are/Commissions/Disciplinary-Commission/2017/SML-022-Decision-Disciplinary-Commission-Aleksandr-TRETIAKOV.pdf#_ga=2.63152751.1381658493.1516102216-1915251872.1489056376">Aleksandr
Tretiakov</a> who were both banned
from all future editions of the Games. It is now clear that the Court of
Arbitration for Sport will have quite some work in the coming weeks as the
banned athletes are turning to this Swiss-based arbitral tribunal to have their
sanctions reviewed (see <a href="http://www.tas-cas.org/fileadmin/user_upload/Media_Release__IOC_Russian_Athlete_Appeals_09.01.18.pdf">here</a> and <a href="http://www.tas-cas.org/fileadmin/user_upload/Media_Release__hearing_RUS_IOC__FINAL.pdf">here</a>).</p>
<p class="MsoNormal" align="justify">&nbsp;</p>
<p class="MsoNormal" align="justify"><i><u>Universal Declaration of Player Rights</u></i></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" align="justify">14 December 2017
was a great day for athletes all over the globe. On this day, representatives
of the world's leading player associations met in Washington D.C. to unveil the
<a href="http://www.uniglobalunion.org/sites/default/files/imce/world_players_udpr_1-page_0.pdf">Universal
Declaration of Player Rights</a>, a landmark document developed under the aegis of the
<a href="http://www.uniglobalunion.org/sectors/world-players">World Players
Association</a> that
strives to protect athletes from ongoing and systemic human rights violations
in global sport. The World Players Association's Executive Director <a href="https://twitter.com/BrendanSchwab">Brendan
Schwab</a> emphasised that
the current system of sports governance ''<i>lacks
legitimacy and fails to protect the very people who sit at the heart of sport</i>''
and stated that ''<i>athlete rights can no
longer be ignored</i>''. Among other rights, the Declaration recognises the
right of athletes to equality of opportunity, fair and just working conditions,
privacy and the protection of personal data, due process, or effective remedy.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal" align="justify">&nbsp;</p>
<p class="MsoNormal" align="justify"><i><u>Chris Froome failed a doping test during the last
year's Vuelta a España</u></i></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" align="justify">The world of
cycling suffered yet another blow when it transpired that one of its superstars
Chris Froome had <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2017/dec/13/chris-froome-team-sky-reputation-abnormal-drug-test">failed a
doping test</a> during
the last year's Vuelta a España, a race he had eventually
emerged victorious from for the first time in his career. His urine sample
collected on 7 September 2017 contained twice the amount of salbutamol, a
medication used to treat asthma, than permissible under the World Anti-Doping
Agency's <a href="https://www.wada-ama.org/sites/default/files/resources/files/2016-09-29_-_wada_prohibited_list_2017_eng_final.pdf">2017 Prohibited List</a>. Kenyan-born Froome has now hired a team of medical
and legal experts to put forward a convincing explanation for the abnormal
levels of salbutamol in his urine and thus to avoid sanctions being imposed on
him. <br></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" align="justify">&nbsp;</p>
<p class="MsoNormal" align="justify"><b>Sports Law Related Decisions</b></p>
<p align="justify"><ul><li>CAS – <a href="http://www.tas-cas.org/fileadmin/user_upload/Award_4937_final.pdf">Award
delivered in the arbitration between Drug Free Sport New Zealand and Karl
Murray</a></li><li>European
Commission – <a href="http://ec.europa.eu/competition/state_aid/cases/268479/268479_1948069_143_2.pdf">State Aid
decision on the construction of a multi-purpose arena in Tampere, Finland</a></li><li>IOC – <a href="https://stillmed.olympic.org/media/Document%20Library/OlympicOrg/IOC/Who-We-Are/Commissions/Disciplinary-Commission/2017/SML-022-Decision-Disciplinary-Commission-Aleksandr-TRETIAKOV.pdf#_ga=2.66626926.1381658493.1516102216-1915251872.1489056376">Decision of
the Disciplinary Commission in the proceedings against Aleksandr Tretiakov</a></li><li>IOC – <a href="https://stillmed.olympic.org/media/Document%20Library/OlympicOrg/IOC/Who-We-Are/Commissions/Disciplinary-Commission/2017/SML-029-Decision-Disciplinary-Commission-Evgeniy-BELOV.pdf#_ga=2.62440172.1381658493.1516102216-1915251872.1489056376">Decision of
the Disciplinary Commission in the proceedings against Evgeniy Belov</a></li><li>IOC – <a href="https://stillmed.olympic.org/media/Document%20Library/OlympicOrg/IOC/Who-We-Are/Commissions/Disciplinary-Commission/IOC-DC-Schmid/Decision-of-the-IOC-Executive-Board-05-12-2017.pdf">Decision to
ban Russian athletes from the 2018 Winter Olympic Games in Pyeongchang</a></li></ul></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" align="justify">&nbsp;</p>
<p class="MsoNormal" align="justify"><b>Official Documents and Press Releases</b></p>
<p align="justify"><ul><li>CAS – <a href="http://www.tas-cas.org/fileadmin/user_upload/Media_Release_5422_et_al.pdf">22 Russian
athletes file appeals</a></li><li>CAS – <a href="http://www.tas-cas.org/fileadmin/user_upload/Media_Release_5444.pdf">3 additional
Russian athletes file appeals</a> </li><li>CAS – <a href="http://www.tas-cas.org/fileadmin/user_upload/Media_Release_5320.pdf">American
bobsledder Ryan Bailey sanctioned with a two-year period of ineligibility</a></li><li>CAS –<b> </b><a href="http://www.tas-cas.org/fileadmin/user_upload/Media_Release__English__5144.pdf">José Enrique
Angulo Caicedo sanctioned with four-year period of ineligibility</a></li><li>CAS –<b> </b><a href="http://www.tas-cas.org/fileadmin/user_upload/Media_Release_5099_5124_decisions.pdf">The appeals
filed by Artur Taimazov and Tatyana Chernova are dismissed</a></li><li>Council
of Europe – <a href="http://website-pace.net/documents/19871/3306947/20171204-GoodFootballGovernance-EN.pdf/cfb8697b-2aa1-4bc4-ab26-697dea639bba">Good football
governance</a></li><li>Council
of Europe – <a href="http://website-pace.net/documents/19871/3306947/20171204-SportsGovernance-EN.pdf/ba652dbe-009b-410c-b3bb-a02d6dee7dd6">Working
towards a framework for modern sports governance</a></li><li>European
Commission – <a href="https://publications.europa.eu/en/publication-detail/-/publication/50083cbb-b544-11e7-837e-01aa75ed71a1/language-en/format-PDF/source-44694285">An evaluation
of the anti-doping laws and practices in the EU Member States in light of the
General Data Protection Regulation</a></li><li>European
Commission – <a href="http://europa.eu/rapid/press-release_IP-17-5184_en.htm">International
Skating Union's restrictive penalties on athletes breach EU competition rules</a></li><li>FIFA – <a href="http://www.fifa.com/governance/news/y=2017/m=12/news=fifa-appeal-committee-reduces-the-sanction-imposed-on-paolo-guerrero-t-2925556.html">Appeal
Committee reduces the sanction imposed on Paolo Guerrero to a six-month
suspension</a></li><li>FIFA – <a href="http://resources.fifa.com/mm/document/affederation/administration/02/92/15/75/circularno.1603-amendmentstotherulesgoverningtheproceduresoftheplayersstatuscommitteeandthedisputeresolutionchamberandtotheregulationsonthestatusandtrans_neutral.pdf">Circular no.
1603 re amendments to the Rules Governing the Procedures of the Players' Status
Committee and the Dispute Resolution Chamber and to the Regulations on the
Status and Transfer of Players</a></li><li>FIFA – <a href="http://resources.fifa.com/mm/document/affederation/administration/02/92/15/98/circularno.1605-2018fifaworldcuprussia%E2%84%A2mediaandmarketingregulations_neutral.pdf">Circular no.
1605 re 2018 World Cup Russia Media and Marketing Regulations</a></li><li>FIFA –<b> </b><a href="http://www.fifa.com/governance/news/y=2017/m=12/news=normalisation-committee-appointed-for-the-malian-fa-2925523.html">Normalisation
committee appointed for the Malian FA</a></li><li>FIFA –<b> </b><a href="http://www.fifa.com/governance/news/y=2017/m=12/news=suspension-of-the-kuwait-football-association-lifted-2922929.html">Suspension of
the Kuwait Football Association lifted</a></li><li>&nbsp;IOC –<b> </b><a href="https://www.olympic.org/news/ioc-and-international-partners-establish-taskforces-to-tackle-corruption-in-sport">IOC and
international partners establish taskforces to tackle corruption in sport</a></li><li>IOC –<b> </b><a href="https://www.olympic.org/news/ioc-sanctions-one-athlete-for-failing-anti-doping-tests-at-vancouver-2010">IOC sanctions
one athlete for failing anti-doping tests at Vancouver 2010</a></li><li>IOC –<b> </b><a href="https://www.olympic.org/news/ioc-suspends-russian-noc-and-creates-a-path-for-clean-individual-athletes-to-compete-in-pyeongchang-2018-under-the-olympic-flag">IOC suspends
Russian NOC and creates a path for clean individual athletes to compete in
Pyeongchang 2018 under the Olympic flag</a></li><li>IOC –<b> </b><a href="https://www.olympic.org/news/olympic-athlete-from-russia-oar-invitation-review-panel-discusses-objectives-and-methodology">Olympic
Athlete from Russia (OAR) Invitation Review Panel discusses objectives and
methodology</a></li><li>IOC –<b> </b>Oswald Commission's findings with
regard to Russian athletes:</li><ul><li>&nbsp;<a href="https://www.olympic.org/news/ioc-sanctions-three-russian-athletes-as-part-of-oswald-commission-findings-2017-12-01">Yulia
Chekaleva, Anastasia Dotsenko, and Olga Zaytseva</a></li><li><a href="https://www.olympic.org/news/ioc-sanctions-six-russian-athletes-and-closes-one-case-as-part-of-oswald-commission-findings">Inna
Dyubanok, Ekaterina Lebedeva, Ekaterina Pashkevich, Anna Shibanova, Ekaterina
Smolentseva, and Galina Skiba</a></li><li><a href="https://www.olympic.org/news/ioc-sanctions-11-russian-athletes-as-part-of-oswald-commission-findings">Ivan Skobrev,
Artem Kuznetcov, Tatyana Ivanova, Albert Demchenko, Nikita Kryukov, Alexander
Bessmertnykh, Natalia Matveeva, Liudmila Udobkina, Maxim Belugin, Tatiana
Burina, and Anna Shchukina</a></li><li>
<a href="https://www.olympic.org/news/ioc-sanctions-one-russian-athlete-and-closes-one-case-as-part-of-oswald-commission-findings">Alexey
Voevoda</a></li></ul><li>&nbsp;IOC –<b> </b><a href="https://stillmed.olympic.org/media/Document%20Library/OlympicOrg/IOC/Who-We-Are/Commissions/Disciplinary-Commission/IOC-DC-Schmid/IOC-Disciplinary-Commission-Schmid-Report.pdf">Schmid
Commission's report to the IOC Executive Board</a></li><li>Tennis
Integrity Unit –<b> </b><a href="http://www.tennisintegrityunit.com/media-releases/cas-rejects-appeal-lifetime-ban-nick-lindahl-upholds-existing-7-year-sanction">CAS rejects
appeal for lifetime ban on Nick Lindahl but upholds existing seven-year
sanction</a></li><li>Tennis Integrity
Unit – <a href="http://www.tennisintegrityunit.com/media-releases/piotr-gadomski-disciplined-breach-seven-year-corruption-ban">Piotr
Gadomski disciplined for breach of seven-year corruption ban</a></li><li>WADA –<b> </b><a href="https://www.wada-ama.org/en/media/news/2017-12/statement-from-wada-athlete-committee-regarding-the-iocs-decision-on-russia">Statement
from WADA Athlete Committee regarding the IOC's decision on Russia</a></li><li>WADA –<b> </b><a href="https://www.wada-ama.org/en/media/news/2017-12/wada-statement-regarding-the-iocs-decision-concerning-russia">Statement
regarding the IOC's decision concerning Russia</a></li><li>&nbsp;WADA – <a href="https://www.wada-ama.org/en/media/news/2017-12/wada-launches-first-phase-of-2021-world-anti-doping-code-review-process">WADA launches
first phase of 2021 World Anti-Doping Code review process</a></li><li>&nbsp;WADA –<b> </b><a href="https://www.wada-ama.org/en/media/news/2017-12/wada-meets-with-international-federations-and-provides-intelligence-from-moscows">WADA meets
with International Federations and provides intelligence from Moscow's
Laboratory Information Management System Database</a></li><li>World
Players Association –<b> </b><a href="http://www.uniglobalunion.org/sites/default/files/imce/world_players_udpr_1-page_0.pdf">Universal
Declaration of Player Rights</a></li></ul></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" align="justify"><b>&nbsp;</b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" align="justify"><b>In the news</b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" align="justify"><i>Doping</i></p>
<p align="justify"><ul><li>Associated
Press <a href="https://wintergames.ap.org/article/suspension-lifted-french-anti-doping-lab?utm_campaign=SocialFlow&amp;utm_source=Twitter&amp;utm_medium=AP_Sports">Suspension
lifted on French anti-doping lab</a></li></ul><ul><li>Associated
Press <a href="http://www.espn.com/sports/endurance/story/_/id/21768013/italian-cyclist-nicola-ruffoni-banned-4-years-doping">UCI bans
Italian cyclist Nicola Ruffoni for doping</a></li><li>&nbsp;Rachel
Axon <a href="https://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/olympics/2017/12/11/lifetime-bans-russian-athletes-unlikely-stand-experts-say/940897001/">Lifetime bans
for Russian athletes are unlikely to stands, experts say</a></li><li>Cycling
News <a href="http://www.cyclingnews.com/news/chris-froome-hires-former-bruyneel-and-contador-lawyer-for-salbutamol-case/">Chris Froome
hires former Bruyneel and Contador lawyer for salbutamol case</a></li><li>Sean
Ingle <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2017/dec/06/british-olympians-back-ioc-decision-russia-winter-olympics">British
Olympians back IOC's decision to ban Russia from Pyeongchang 2018</a></li><li>Sean
Ingle and Martha Kelner <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2017/dec/13/chris-froome-team-sky-reputation-abnormal-drug-test">Chris Froome
fights to save career after failed drugs test result</a></li><li>Chijioke
Jannah <a href="http://dailypost.ng/2017/12/05/100-nigerian-athletes-tested-positive-doping-since-2002-dalung/">Over 100
Nigerian athletes tested positive for doping since 2002</a></li><li>&nbsp;Meduza <a href="https://meduza.io/en/news/2017/12/11/russia-indicts-doping-whistleblower-grigory-rodchenkov-on-trafficking-charges">Russia
indicts doping whistleblower Grigory Rodchenkov on trafficking charges</a></li><li>Sky
Sports <a href="http://www.skysports.com/more-sports/olympics/news/29175/11156338/russia-claim-whistleblower-grigory-rodchenkovs-doping-diaries-are-fake">Russia claim
whistleblower Grigory Rodchenkov's doping diaries are fake</a></li></ul></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" align="justify"><i>Football</i></p>
<p align="justify"><ul><li>AS <a href="https://en.as.com/en/2017/12/15/football/1513339571_776120.html">FIFA threaten
Spain's place in World Cup 2018 over 'Villar Case'</a></li></ul><ul><li>Associated
Press <a href="http://kwese.espn.com/football/blog-fifa/story/3311958/fifa-bribery-trial-jury-set-to-begin-deliberations-in-new-york">FIFA bribery
trial jury set to begin deliberations in New York</a></li><li>David
Conn <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/football/2017/dec/23/fifa-trial-questions-2022-qatar-world-cup">FIFA trial
leaves questions over 2022 Qatar World Cup</a></li><li>David
Conn <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/football/2017/dec/06/fifa-dependence-russia-ioc-ban-david-conn">FIFA's
desperate dependence on Russia exposed in flimsy response to IOC ban</a></li><li>David
Conn <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/football/2017/dec/15/trabzonspor-challenge-gianni-infantino-stint-uefa-under-scrutiny">Trabzonspor
challenge puts Gianni Infantino's stint at UEFA under scrutiny</a></li><li>Sean
Ingle <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2017/dec/05/ioc-russia-winter-olympics-pyeongchang">Vitaly Mutko
in spotlight but IOC and FIFA want to escape to shadows</a></li><li>Martha
Kelner <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/football/2017/dec/17/2022-world-cup-migrant-workers-systematically-exploited-qatar-amnesty-international?CMP=share_btn_tw">2022 World
Cup migrant workers 'systematically' exploited, Amnesty says</a></li><li>Martha
Kelner <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/football/2017/dec/27/vitaly-mutko-steps-down-russia-world-cup-organising-committee">Vitaly Mutko
steps down as head of Russia World Cup organising committee</a></li><li>Reuters
<a href="https://www.reuters.com/article/us-fifa-brazil-ban/brazilian-football-boss-del-nero-banned-for-90-days-fifa-idUSKBN1E91MY">Brazilian
football boss Del Nero banned for 90 days</a></li><li>Rebecca
R. Ruiz <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2017/12/14/sports/soccer/fifa-trial.html?rref=collection%2Fbyline%2Frebecca-r.-ruiz&amp;action=click&amp;contentCollection=undefined&amp;region=stream&amp;module=stream_unit&amp;version=latest&amp;contentPlacement=5&amp;pgtype=collection">FIFA trial
ends: ''They have a theory that everyone in soccer is dirty''</a></li></ul></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" align="justify"><i>Other</i></p>
<p align="justify"><ul><li>&nbsp;Associated
Press <a href="http://www.nydailynews.com/newswires/sports/kuwait-parliament-passes-law-addressing-ioc-fifa-bans-article-1.3674122">Kuwait
parliament passes law addressing IOC, FIFA bans</a></li></ul><ul><li>Nick
Butler <a href="https://www.insidethegames.biz/articles/1058881/european-commission-order-international-skating-union-to-change-competition-rules-in-landmark-legal-ruling">European
Commission order International Skating Union to change competition rules in
landmark legal ruling</a></li><li>Graham
Dunbar <a href="https://apnews.com/50270349ffbc4743a660532ad17d173d/European-lawmakers-slam-FIFA,-IOC-for-leadership-issues">European
lawmakers slam FIFA, IOC for leadership issues</a></li></ul></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" align="justify"><b>&nbsp;</b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" align="justify"><b>Academic Materials</b></p>
<p align="justify"><ul><li>Antonio
Rigozzi, Emily Wisnosky and Brianna Quinn <a href="https://lk-k.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/11/2017MacolinAnti-DopingSummit_de-1.pdf">The
Proceedings of the 2017 Macolin Anti-Doping Summit: A Fresh Look at the
Science, Legal and Policy Aspects of Anti-Doping</a></li><li>Brendan
Schwab <a href="http://digitalcommons.law.umaryland.edu/mjil/vol32/iss1/4/">''When We
Know Better, We Do Better.'' Embedding the Human Rights of Players as a
Prerequisite to the Legitimacy of Lex Sportiva and Sport's Justice System</a></li></ul></p><p align="justify"><br></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" align="justify"><b>Blog</b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" align="justify"><i>Asser International Sports Law Blog</i></p>
<p align="justify"><ul><li>&nbsp;Ryan Gauthier <a href="http://www.asser.nl/SportsLaw/Blog/post/a-good-governance-approach-to-stadium-subsidies-in-north-america-by-ryan-gauthier">A Good Governance Approach to
Stadium Subsidies in North America</a></li></ul><ul><li>&nbsp;Tomáš Grell <a href="http://www.asser.nl/SportsLaw/Blog/post/human-rights-as-selection-criteria-in-bidding-regulations-for-mega-sporting-events-part-i-ioc-and-uefa-by-tomas-grell">Human Rights as Selection Criteria in Bidding Regulations for
Mega-Sporting Events – Part I: IOC and UEFA</a></li><li>Ben Van Rompuy and Antoine Duval <a href="http://www.asser.nl/SportsLaw/Blog/post/statement-on-the-european-commission-s-isu-decision-by-ben-van-rompuy-and-antoine-duval">Statement on the European
Commission's ISU Decision</a></li></ul></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" align="justify"><i>Law in Sport</i></p>
<p align="justify"><ul><li>&nbsp;Sean
Cottrell <a href="https://www.lawinsport.com/topics/articles/item/the-evolution-of-athlete-rights-with-brendan-schwab-of-the-world-players-association?category_id=112">The evolution
of athlete rights with Brendan Schwab of the World Players Association</a></li></ul><ul><li>Henry
Goldschmidt <a href="https://www.lawinsport.com/topics/articles/item/football-s-greatest-threat-why-technology-stakeholder-collaboration-are-key-to-combating-global-match-fixing">Football's
greatest threat: Why technology and stakeholder collaboration are key to
combating global match-fixing</a></li><li>Chris
Hurlston and Neerali Madhvani <a href="https://www.lawinsport.com/topics/articles/item/a-review-of-the-current-inquiries-investigations-into-abuse-in-uk-football">A review of the
current inquiries and investigations into abuse in UK football</a></li><li>Viktoria
Tsvetanova <a href="https://www.lawinsport.com/topics/articles/item/why-sports-federations-are-under-increasing-scrutiny-from-competition-authorities">Why sports
federations are under increasing scrutiny from competition authorities</a></li><li>John
Wolohan <a href="https://www.lawinsport.com/topics/articles/item/sports-betting-in-the-united-states-supreme-court-begins-hearing-christie-v-ncaa">Sports
betting in the United States: Supreme Court begins hearing Christie v. NCAA</a></li></ul></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" align="justify"><i>Others</i></p>
<p align="justify"><ul><li>Jack
Anderson <a href="http://theconversation.com/russias-humiliating-ban-from-the-winter-olympics-is-the-right-move-to-protect-integrity-in-sport-88689?utm_source=twitter&amp;utm_medium=twitterbutton">Russia's
humiliating ban from the Winter Olympics is the right move to protect integrity
in sport</a></li><li>Nick
Butler <a href="https://www.insidethegames.biz/articles/1058991/nick-butler-russian-compromises-and-european-commission-precedents-in-another-nice-easy-week-for-the-ioc">Russian
compromises and European Commission precedents in another nice easy week for
the IOC</a></li><li>Borja Garc<a href="https://www.alacontra.es/author/borja-garcia/" title="Entradas de Borja García">ía</a> <a href="https://www.alacontra.es/decision-historica-la-ue-reduce-poder-las-federaciones-internacionales/">A historic
decision: The European Union curtails the power of international federations</a></li><li>&nbsp;Nicholas McGeehan <a href="https://medium.com/@NcGeehan/the-men-behind-man-city-a-documentary-not-coming-soon-to-a-cinema-near-you-14bc8e393e06">The men
behind Man City: A documentary not coming soon to a cinema near to you</a></li><li>David Owen <a href="https://www.insidethegames.biz/articles/1059099/david-owen-a-trawl-through-the-latest-isu-financial-report-reveals-a-rich-store-of-assets-while-pointing-to-an-uncertain-future">A trawl
through the latest ISU financial report reveals a rich store of assets, while
pointing to an uncertain future</a></li><li>Navi Pillay Miguel Maduro and Joseph Weiler <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/football/2017/dec/21/our-sin-take-task-fifa-seriously?CMP=share_btn_tw">Our sin? We
appeared to take our task at FIFA too seriously</a></li><li>Rebecca R. Ruiz <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2017/12/08/sunday-review/how-russia-cheats.html?rref=collection%2Fbyline%2Frebecca-r.-ruiz">Why Russia
tried to cheat its way to glory</a></li><li>Giles Tremlett <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/news/2017/dec/15/manchester-city-football-group-ferran-soriano">Manchester
City's plan for global domination</a></li></ul></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" align="justify">&nbsp;</p>
<p class="MsoNormal" align="justify"><b>Upcoming Events</b></p>
<p align="justify"><ul><li>16
March – <a href="https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/sports-law-and-business-conference-manchester-tickets-39401863033">Sports Law
&amp; Business Conference</a>,
Etihad Stadium, Manchester, England</li><li>3-4
July – <a href="http://www.sportandeu.com/2017/11/call-for-papers-2018-conference-at-edge-hill-university/">13<sup>th</sup>
Sport &amp; EU Annual Conference</a>, Edge Hill University, England</li></ul></p>
http://www.asser.nl/SportsLaw/Blog/post/international-and-european-sports-law-monthly-report-december-2017-by-tomas-grell
http://www.asser.nl/SportsLaw/Blog/post/international-and-european-sports-law-monthly-report-december-2017-by-tomas-grell#commenthttp://www.asser.nl/SportsLaw/Blog/post.aspx?id=9cbcad0c-f8ff-4554-aada-ff25359e6baeWed, 31 Jan 2018 18:01:00 +0200BlogInternational Sports Law CasesInternational Sports Law CommentariesInternational Sports Law EventsInternational Sports Law MaterialInternational Sports Law PublicationsAntoine Duvalhttp://www.asser.nl/SportsLaw/Blog/pingback.axdhttp://www.asser.nl/SportsLaw/Blog/post.aspx?id=9cbcad0c-f8ff-4554-aada-ff25359e6bae0http://www.asser.nl/SportsLaw/Blog/trackback.axd?id=9cbcad0c-f8ff-4554-aada-ff25359e6baehttp://www.asser.nl/SportsLaw/Blog/post/international-and-european-sports-law-monthly-report-december-2017-by-tomas-grell#commenthttp://www.asser.nl/SportsLaw/Blog/syndication.axd?post=9cbcad0c-f8ff-4554-aada-ff25359e6baeInternational and European Sports Law – Monthly Report – November 2017. By Tomáš Grell
<p class="MsoNormal" align="justify"><b>Editor's note:</b> This report compiles all relevant news, events and materials on International and European Sports Law based on the daily coverage provided on our twitter feed <a href="https://twitter.com/sportslaw_asser">@Sportslaw_asser.</a> You are invited to complete this survey via the comments section below, feel free to add links to important cases, documents and articles we might have overlooked.</p><p class="MsoNormal" align="justify"><b>&nbsp;</b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" align="justify"><b>The Headlines</b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" align="justify"><i><u>FIFA and FIFPro sign landmark agreement</u></i></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" align="justify">A six-year <a href="http://www.fifa.com/governance/news/y=2017/m=11/news=fifa-and-fifpro-sign-landmark-agreement-and-announce-measures-to-enhan-2918747.html">cooperation agreement</a> concluded between FIFA and FIFPro on 6 November 2017 puts an end to protracted negotiations which began after the latter had filed in September 2015 a <a href="http://www.fifpro.org/attachments/article/6156/FIFPro%20Complaint%20Executive%20Summary.pdf">complaint</a> with the European Commission, challenging the validity of the FIFA transfer system under EU competition law. This agreement, together with an accord reached between FIFA, FIFPro, the European Club Association, and the World Leagues Forum under the umbrella of the <a href="http://www.fifa.com/about-fifa/committees/committee=1946675/index.html">FIFA Football Stakeholders Committee</a>, should help streamline dispute resolution between players and clubs, avoid abusive practices in the world of football, or contribute to the growth of professional women's football. In addition, the FIFA Football Stakeholders Committee is now expected to establish a task force to study and conduct a broader review of the transfer system. As part of the deal, FIFPro agreed to withdraw its EU competition law complaint.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal" align="justify"><i><u>FIFA strengthens its human rights commitment amid reports of journalists getting arrested in Russia</u></i></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" align="justify">It is fair to say that human rights have been at the forefront of FIFA's agenda in 2017. Following the establishment of the <a href="http://www.fifa.com/governance/news/y=2017/m=3/news=independent-advisory-board-of-human-rights-experts-to-meet-on-13-march-2875485.html">Human Rights Advisory Board</a> in March and the adoption of the <a href="http://www.fifa.com/governance/news/y=2017/m=6/news=fifa-publishes-landmark-human-rights-policy-2893311.html">Human Rights Policy</a> in June this year, in November FIFA published the <a href="http://www.fifa.com/about-fifa/news/y=2017/m=10/news=fifa-publishes-guide-to-bidding-process-for-the-2026-fifa-world-cuptm-2916170.html">bidding regulations for the 2026 World Cup</a>. Under these new regulations, member associations bidding to host the final tournament shall, <i>inter alia</i>, commit themselves to respecting all internationally recognised human rights in line with the <a href="http://www.ohchr.org/Documents/Publications/GuidingPrinciplesBusinessHR_EN.pdf">United Nations Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights</a> or present a human rights strategy on how they intend to honour this commitment. Importantly, the human rights strategy must include a comprehensive report that is to be complemented and informed by a study elaborated by an independent expert organisation. Moreover, on 9 November 2017, the Human Rights Advisory Board published its <a href="http://resources.fifa.com/mm/document/affederation/footballgovernance/02/91/92/38/fifahumanrightsenweb_neutral.pdf">first report</a> in which it outlined several recommendations for FIFA on how to further strengthen its efforts to ensure respect for human rights.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal" align="justify">While all these attempts to enhance human rights protection are no doubt praiseworthy, they have not yet produced the desired effect as reports of gross human rights abuses linked to FIFA's activities continue to emerge. Most recently, Human Rights Watch documented how Russian police arrested a <a href="https://www.hrw.org/news/2017/11/07/russian-police-violently-arrest-critical-newspaper-editor">newspaper editor</a> and a <a href="https://www.hrw.org/news/2017/11/09/russian-human-rights-defender-faces-police-court">human rights defender</a> whose work focused on exposing World Cup-related corruption and exploitation of migrant construction workers. On a more positive note, a bit of hope comes with the announcement by a diverse coalition, including FIFA, UEFA, and the International Olympic Committee, of its intention to launch a new independent <a href="https://www.ihrb.org/uploads/news-uploads/Centre_for_Sport_and_Human_Rights_Joint_Statement_-_MSE_Platform.pdf">Centre for Sport and Human Rights</a> in 2018.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal" align="justify"><i><u>More than 20 Russian athletes sanctioned by the Oswald Commission for anti-doping rule violations at the Sochi Games</u></i> &nbsp;&nbsp;</p>
<p class="MsoNormal" align="justify">November has been a busy month for the International Olympic Committee, especially for its <a href="https://www.olympic.org/fight-against-doping/ioc-disciplinary-commissions">Oswald Commission</a>. Established in July 2016 after the first part of the <a href="https://www.wada-ama.org/en/resources/search?f%5B0%5D=field_topic%3A23&amp;f%5B1%5D=field_resource_type%3A115">McLaren Independent Investigation Report</a> had been published, the Oswald Commission is tasked with investigating the alleged doping violations by Russian athletes at the 2014 Winter Olympic Games in Sochi. Its first sanctions were handed down last month. As of 30 November 2017, the Commission chaired by the IOC Member Denis Oswald sanctioned 22 athletes (see <a href="https://www.olympic.org/news/ioc-sanctions-two-russian-athletes-as-part-of-oswald-commission-findings">here</a>, <a href="https://www.olympic.org/news/ioc-sanctions-four-russian-athletes-and-closes-one-case-as-part-of-oswald-commission-findings">here</a>, <a href="https://www.olympic.org/news/ioc-sanctions-four-russian-athletes-as-part-of-oswald-commission-findings">here</a>, <a href="https://www.olympic.org/news/ioc-sanctions-four-russian-athletes-as-part-of-oswald-commission-findings-2017-11-24">here</a>, <a href="https://www.olympic.org/news/ioc-sanctions-five-russian-athletes-and-publishes-first-full-decision-as-part-of-the-oswald-commission-findings">here</a>, and <a href="https://www.olympic.org/news/ioc-sanctions-three-russian-athletes-as-part-of-oswald-commission-findings">here</a>) who competed at the Sochi Olympics in the following sports: biathlon, bobsleigh, cross country skiing, skeleton, and speed skating. The Commission published its <a href="https://stillmed.olympic.org/media/Document%20Library/OlympicOrg/IOC/Who-We-Are/Commissions/Disciplinary-Commission/2017/SML-006-Decision-Alexander-LEGKOV.pdf#_ga=2.248583297.74761921.1512378646-1915251872.1489056376">first full decision</a> on 27 November 2017 in the case against the cross country skier Alexander Legkov, a gold and silver medallist from the Sochi Olympics, who was ultimately banned for life from attending another Olympics.</p><p class="MsoNormal" align="justify"><br></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" align="justify"><b>Sports Law Related Decisions</b></p>
<ul><li>CAS – <a href="http://www.tas-cas.org/fileadmin/user_upload/Consent_Award_5280_internet.pdf">Award delivered in the arbitration between Danis Zaripov and the International Ice Hockey Federation</a></li><li>IOC – <a href="https://stillmed.olympic.org/media/Document%20Library/OlympicOrg/IOC/Who-We-Are/Commissions/Disciplinary-Commission/2017/SML-006-Decision-Alexander-LEGKOV.pdf#_ga=2.17784767.74761921.1512378646-1915251872.1489056376">Decision of the Disciplinary Commission in the proceedings against Alexander Legkov</a></li><li>Swiss Federal Tribunal – <a href="http://www.swissarbitrationdecisions.com/sites/default/files/29%20juin%202017%204A%20600%202016%20.pdf">Judgment in the case between Michel Platini and FIFA (translated to English)</a></li></ul><p class="MsoNormal" align="justify"><b><br></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" align="justify"><b>Official Documents and Press Releases</b></p>
<ul><li>Amnesty International – <a href="https://www.amnesty.org/en/latest/news/2017/11/fifa-under-pressure-over-handling-of-world-cup-construction-abuse/">FIFA under pressure over handling of World Cup construction abuse</a></li><li>CAS – <a href="http://www.tas-cas.org/fileadmin/user_upload/Media_Release__English__4780_4788.pdf">CAS cancels two fines imposed on the Mexican Football Federation and imposes warnings in their place</a></li><li>CAS – <a href="http://www.tas-cas.org/fileadmin/user_upload/Media_Release_5368_.pdf">CAS rejects an application for urgent provisional measures filed by Adrien Silva</a></li><li>CAS –<b> </b><a href="http://www.tas-cas.org/en/media/media-releases.html">CAS upholds the appeal of football club Real Garcilaso; decision of the Peruvian Football Federation reversed</a></li><li>FIFA – <a href="http://www.fifa.com/governance/news/y=2017/m=11/news=adjudicatory-chamber-of-the-independent-ethics-committee-bans-former-f-2920746.html">Adjudicatory Chamber of the independent Ethics Committee bans former football officials</a></li><li>FIFA – <a href="http://resources.fifa.com/mm/document/affederation/administration/02/91/84/59/circularno.1600-participationofclubsinthebenefitsofthe2018fifaworldcuprussia%AA_neutral.pdf">Circular no. 1600 re participation of clubs in the benefits of the 2018 FIFA World Cup Russia</a></li><li>FIFA –<b> </b><a href="http://resources.fifa.com/mm/document/affederation/administration/02/91/84/68/circularno.1601-professionalfemaleplayersinitms-amendmentstothefifaregulationsonthestatusandtransferofplayers_neutral.pdf">Circular no. 1601 re professional female players in the international transfer matching system</a></li><li>FIFA –<b> </b><a href="http://www.fifa.com/governance/news/y=2017/m=11/news=fifa-and-fifpro-sign-landmark-agreement-and-announce-measures-to-enhan-2918747.html">FIFA and FIFPro sign landmark agreement and announce measures to enhance professional football</a></li><li>FIFA – <a href="http://resources.fifa.com/mm/document/affederation/footballgovernance/02/91/92/38/fifahumanrightsenweb_neutral.pdf">First report of the FIFA Human Rights Advisory Board</a></li><li>FIFA –<b> </b><a href="http://resources.fifa.com/mm/document/affederation/administration/02/91/88/61/en_guidetothebiddingprocessforthe2026fifaworldcup_neutral.pdf">Guide to the bidding process for the 2026 FIFA World Cup</a></li><li>FIFPro –<b> </b><a href="https://www.fifpro.org/news/player-unions-create-sexual-abuse-protocols/en/">Player unions create sexual abuse protocols</a></li><li>FIFPro – <a href="https://www.fifpro.org/news/turkish-football-tribunal-questioned/en/">Turkish football tribunal questioned</a><b> </b></li><li>Human Rights Watch – <a href="https://www.hrw.org/news/2017/11/09/russian-human-rights-defender-faces-police-court">Russian human rights defender faces police in court</a></li><li>IOC – <a href="https://www.olympic.org/news/ioc-president-highlights-athletes-exemplary-role-as-the-un-general-assembly-adopts-olympic-truce-for-pyeongchang-2018-by-consensus">IOC President highlights athletes' exemplary role as the UN General Assembly adopts Olympic Truce for Pyeongchang 2018 by consensus</a></li><li>IOC –<b> </b><a href="https://www.olympic.org/news/ioc-sanctions-two-athletes-for-failing-anti-doping-tests-at-london-2012">IOC sanctions Russian athletes Anna Nazarova and Yulia Gushchina for failing anti-doping tests at London 2012</a></li><li>IOC –<b> </b>Oswald Commission findings with regard to Russian athletes:</li><ul><li><a href="https://www.olympic.org/news/ioc-sanctions-three-russian-athletes-as-part-of-oswald-commission-findings">Aleksandr Kas'yanov, Aleksei Pushkarev, and Iivir Khuzin</a></li><li><a href="https://www.olympic.org/news/ioc-sanctions-two-russian-athletes-as-part-of-oswald-commission-findings">Alexander Legkov and Evgeniy Belov</a></li></ul></ul><ul><ul><li><a href="https://www.olympic.org/news/ioc-sanctions-four-russian-athletes-as-part-of-oswald-commission-findings-2017-11-24">Olga Stulneva, Aleksandr Zubkov, Olga Fatkulina, and Aleksander Rumyantsev</a></li><li><a href="https://www.olympic.org/news/ioc-sanctions-five-russian-athletes-and-publishes-first-full-decision-as-part-of-the-oswald-commission-findings">Sergei Chudino, Aleksei Negodailo, Dmitrii Trunenkov, Yana Romanova, and Olga Vilukhina</a></li><li><a href="https://www.olympic.org/news/ioc-sanctions-four-russian-athletes-and-closes-one-case-as-part-of-oswald-commission-findings">Yuliia Ivanova, Alexey Petukhov, Evgeniya Shapovalova, and Maksim Vylegzhanin</a></li></ul><li>IOC –<b> </b><a href="https://www.olympic.org/news/ioc-statement-on-ioc-member-mr-frank-fredericks-1">Statement on IOC member Frank Fredericks</a> </li><li>United Nations General Assembly – <a href="https://stillmed.olympic.org/media/Document%20Library/OlympicOrg/IOC/Who-We-Are/Commissions/Public-Affairs-And-Social-Development-Through-Sport/Olympic-Truce/Resolution-PyeongChang-2018-eng.pdf">Draft resolution on building a peaceful and better world through sport and the Olympic ideal</a></li><li>WADA – <a href="https://www.wada-ama.org/en/media/news/2017-10/wada-compliance-review-committee-update">Compliance Review Committee update</a></li><li>WADA –<b> </b><a href="https://www.wada-ama.org/en/media/news/2017-11/wada-foundation-board-takes-important-decisions-that-will-significantly">Foundation Board takes important decisions that will significantly strengthen the Agency and the future of clean sport</a></li><li>WADA – <a href="https://www.wada-ama.org/en/media/news/2017-11/wada-in-possession-of-new-intelligence-from-moscow-laboratory">WADA in possession of new intelligence from Moscow Laboratory</a></li><li>WADA – <a href="https://www.wada-ama.org/en/media/news/2017-11/wada-suspends-accreditation-of-paris-laboratory">WADA suspends accreditation of Paris Laboratory</a></li><li>WADA – <a href="https://www.wada-ama.org/en/media/news/2017-11/wada-welcomes-the-ioc-oswald-commissions-first-sanctions-against-russian-athletes">WADA welcomes the IOC Oswald Commission’s first sanctions against Russian athletes identified via the Agency’s McLaren Investigation</a></li></ul>
<p class="MsoNormal" align="justify"><b><br></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" align="justify"><b>In the news</b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" align="justify"><i>Doping</i></p>
<ul><li>Rachel Axon <a href="https://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/olympics/2017/11/16/how-world-anti-doping-agency-decision-russia-impact-international-olympic-committee/872629001/">How will World Anti-Doping Agency decision on Russia impact International Olympic Committee?</a></li><li>Andy Brown <a href="http://www.sportsintegrityinitiative.com/russian-investigation-denies-wada-evidence-state-doping/">Russian investigation denies WADA evidence and State doping</a></li><li>Nick Butler <a href="https://www.insidethegames.biz/articles/1057756/wada-obtain-key-database-proving-russian-sample-tampering-at-sochi-2014">WADA obtain key database proving Russian doping before Sochi 2014</a></li><li>Govorit Moskva <a href="https://meduza.io/en/news/2017/11/16/the-honorary-president-of-russia-s-olympic-committee-says-the-whistleblower-who-exposed-moscow-s-doping-program-should-be-shot-like-stalin-would-have-done">The honorary president of Russia’s Olympic Committee says the whistleblower who exposed Moscow’s doping program ‘should be shot, like Stalin would have done’</a></li><li>Duncan Mackay <a href="https://www.insidethegames.biz/articles/1057581/south-african-golfer-banned-after-failing-drugs-test">South African golfer banned after failing drugs test</a></li><li>Associated Press <a href="https://sports.inquirer.net/271144/fifa-suspend-peru-striker-guerrero-failing-doping-test#ixzz4xTGsTgDu">FIFA suspend Peru striker Guerrero for failing doping test</a></li><li>Canadian Press <a href="https://beta.theglobeandmail.com/sports/olympics/canadian-powerlifter-niko-somos-gets-two-year-sanction-for-doping-violation/article36848567/?ref=http://www.theglobeandmail.com&amp;">Canadian powerlifter Niko Somos gets two-year sanction for anti-doping violation</a></li><li>Loretta Race <a href="https://swimswam.com/austrian-champion-sebastian-steffan-handed-12-month-doping-ban/">Austrian champion Sebastian Steffan handed 12-month doping ban</a></li><li>Rebecca R. Ruiz <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2017/11/28/sports/olympics/russia-doping.html?emc=edit_ta_20171128&amp;nl=top-stories&amp;nlid=55382862&amp;ref=headline">Olympic doping diaries: Chemist's notes bolster case against Russia</a>&nbsp;</li></ul><p class="MsoNormal" align="justify"><i>Football</i></p>
<ul><li>BBC News <a href="http://www.bbc.com/sport/football/41914008">FIFA insists Isha Johansen is still Sierra Leone FA President</a></li><li>BBC News <a href="http://www.bbc.com/news/uk-41878954">Paradise Papers: Who is in control of Everton?</a></li><li>David Conn <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/football/2017/nov/09/fifa-urged-press-qatar-improvements-2022-football-world-cup-stadium-workers?CMP=share_btn_tw">FIFA urged to press Qatar on conditions for World Cup stadium workers</a></li><li>David Conn <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/football/2017/nov/06/fifa-scandal-fbi-new-york-trial-chuck-blazer-sepp-blatter?CMP=share_btn_tw">How the FBI won ‘the World Cup of fraud’ as FIFA scandal arrives in court</a></li><li>Simon Griver <a href="https://www.thejc.com/news/world/match-not-over-as-west-bank-football-claim-moves-to-court-1.447279">Match not over as West Bank football claim moves to court</a></li><li>Josimar <a href="http://www.josimar.no/artikler/i-find-no-other-way-to-describe-fifas-approach-to-the-principle-of-political-neutrality-than-shocking/4383/">Interview with Miguel Maduro, former chair of FIFA’s Governance Committee</a></li><li>Martha Kelner <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/football/2017/nov/28/gay-fans-holding-hands-russia-world-cup-dangerous-fare">Gay fans warned holding hands at Russia World Cup will be dangerous</a></li><li>Lombardi Associates <a href="https://lombardi-football.com/news/2017/11/9/the-court-of-arbitration-for-sport-rejectsgenoa-cfcs-appealagainst-fifa-decision">The Court of Arbitration for Sport rejects Genoa CFC’s appeal against FIFA decision</a></li><li>Tariq Panja <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2017/11/28/sports/soccer/world-cup-sponsors-russia-2018.html?partner=rss&amp;emc=rss&amp;_r=0">As sponsors shy away, FIFA faces World Cup shortfall</a></li><li>Keir Radnedge <a href="http://keirradnedge.com/2017/11/03/warner-fights-on/">Warner secures new delay in fight against FIFAGate extradition to United States</a></li><li>Barney Ronay <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/football/blog/2017/nov/17/fifa-world-cup-debacle-money-horror-death">FIFA’s World Cup debacle is not just about money – there is horror and death too</a></li><li>Rebecca R. Ruiz <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2017/11/16/sports/soccer/fifa-trial-notable-moments-from-first-4-days.html?partner=rss&amp;emc=rss&amp;_r=0">FIFA trial: Notable moments from first four days</a></li><li>Sui-Lee Wee, Ryan McMorrow and Tariq Panja <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2017/11/16/business/dealbook/china-soccer-acmilan-ownership.html?partner=rss&amp;emc=rss">China’s soccer push puts a storied team under murky ownership</a></li><li>Minky Worden <a href="https://www.hrw.org/news/2017/11/22/time-fifa-act-human-rights">Time for FIFA to act on human rights</a></li></ul>
<p class="MsoNormal" align="justify"><i>Other</i></p>
<ul><li>Katie Gainer <a href="https://www.ticketnews.com/2017/11/2018-olympics-tickets-sales-set-historic-low/">2018 Winter Olympics tickets sales could set historic low</a></li><li>Tariq Panja <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2017/11/03/sports/olympics/ahmad-al-fahad-al-sabah-sheikh-corruption-case.html">Powerful Sheikh linked to sports corruption case resurfaces in Prague</a></li><li>Reuters <a href="https://uk.reuters.com/article/uk-eu-isu-skating-antitrust/exclusive-eu-set-to-rule-in-favour-of-speed-skaters-over-isu-ban-threat-sources-idUKKBN1DE1KK">EU set to rule in favour of speed skaters over ISU ban threat</a></li></ul>
<p class="MsoNormal" align="justify"><b><br></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" align="justify"><b>Academic Materials</b></p>
<ul><li>Leonardo de Oliveira <a href="https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s40318-017-0116-5"><i>Lex Sportiva</i> as the Contractual Governing Law</a></li></ul>
<p class="MsoNormal" align="justify"><b><br></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" align="justify"><b>Blogs</b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" align="justify"><i>Asser International Sports Law Blog</i></p>
<ul><li>&nbsp;Oytun Azkanar <a href="http://www.asser.nl/SportsLaw/Blog/post/illegally-obtained-evidence-in-match-fixing-cases-the-turkish-perspective-by-oytun-azkanar">Illegally Obtained Evidence in Match-Fixing Cases: The Turkish Perspective</a></li></ul><ul><li><a href="http://www.asser.nl/SportsLaw/Blog/post/example-of-post-with-islj-videos">Report from the first ISLJ Annual International Sports Law Conference – 26-27 October at the T.M.C. Asser Institute</a></li></ul>
<p class="MsoNormal" align="justify"><i>Law in Sport</i></p>
<ul><li>Sarah Bruce <a href="https://www.lawinsport.com/articles/item/is-bridge-a-sport-for-vat-purposes-the-ecj-s-decision-in-english-bridge-union-v-hmrc">Is bridge a sport for VAT purposes? The ECJ's decision in English Bridge Union v. HMRC</a></li><li>Richard Cooke <a href="https://www.lawinsport.com/articles/item/the-lifecycle-of-an-international-athlete-part-9-key-tips-on-renovating-or-building-a-home">The lifecycle of an international athlete: Part 9 – Key tips on renovating or building a home</a></li><li>Hamish Corner <a href="https://www.lawinsport.com/articles/item/the-lifecycle-of-an-international-athlete-part-10-negotiating-sponsorship-endorsements-deals">The lifecycle of an international athlete: Part 10 – Negotiating sponsorship &amp; endorsements deals</a></li><li>Ani Ghazikhanian <a href="https://www.lawinsport.com/articles/item/cycling-doping-the-importance-of-due-process-a-review-of-the-karl-murray-case">Cycling, doping &amp; the importance of due process: A review of the Karl Murray case</a></li><li>Mathilde Groppo <a href="https://www.lawinsport.com/articles/item/defamation-in-sport-a-comparison-of-the-law-in-france-england-and-australia">Defamation in sport: A comparison of the law in France, England and Australia</a></li><li>Joseph Richmond <a href="https://www.lawinsport.com/articles/item/financial-fair-play-how-clubs-justify-spending-related-party-transactions">Financial Fair Play: How clubs justify spending &amp; related party transactions</a> </li></ul>
<p class="MsoNormal" align="justify"><i>Others</i></p><ul><li>Declan Hill <a href="http://www.playthegame.org/news/news-articles/2017/0378_fifa-trial/">FIFA trial: It is a mob affair</a>
</li></ul>
<p class="MsoNormal" align="justify"><b><br></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" align="justify"><b>Upcoming Events</b></p><ul><li>3-4 July 2018 – <a href="http://www.sportandeu.com/2017/11/call-for-papers-2018-conference-at-edge-hill-university/">13<sup>th</sup> Sport &amp; EU Annual Conference</a>, Edge Hill University, England</li></ul>
http://www.asser.nl/SportsLaw/Blog/post/international-and-european-sports-law-monthly-report-november-2017-by-tomas-grell
http://www.asser.nl/SportsLaw/Blog/post/international-and-european-sports-law-monthly-report-november-2017-by-tomas-grell#commenthttp://www.asser.nl/SportsLaw/Blog/post.aspx?id=712fd80f-beaa-4473-8e15-b2a55923c62cMon, 18 Dec 2017 11:12:00 +0200BlogInternational Sports Law CasesInternational Sports Law CommentariesInternational Sports Law EventsInternational Sports Law MaterialInternational Sports Law PublicationsAntoine Duvalhttp://www.asser.nl/SportsLaw/Blog/pingback.axdhttp://www.asser.nl/SportsLaw/Blog/post.aspx?id=712fd80f-beaa-4473-8e15-b2a55923c62c0http://www.asser.nl/SportsLaw/Blog/trackback.axd?id=712fd80f-beaa-4473-8e15-b2a55923c62chttp://www.asser.nl/SportsLaw/Blog/post/international-and-european-sports-law-monthly-report-november-2017-by-tomas-grell#commenthttp://www.asser.nl/SportsLaw/Blog/syndication.axd?post=712fd80f-beaa-4473-8e15-b2a55923c62cInternational and European Sports Law – Monthly Report – October 2017. By Tomáš Grell
<p class="MsoNormal" align="justify"><b>Editor's note:</b> This report compiles all relevant news, events and
materials on International and European Sports Law based on the daily coverage
provided on our twitter feed <a href="https://twitter.com/sportslaw_asser">@Sportslaw_asser.</a> You
are invited to complete this survey via the comments section below, feel free
to add links to important cases, documents and articles we might have
overlooked.
</p><p class="MsoNormal" align="justify"><b>&nbsp;</b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" align="justify"><b>The Headlines</b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" align="justify"><i><u>Chairman of the Rio 2016 Organising Committee arrested
on corruption charges</u></i></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" align="justify">On 4 October 2017, Brazilian
authorities <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/2017/oct/05/brazilian-police-arrest-olympics-chief-carlos-arthur-nuzman-bribery-investigation">arrested</a> (now former) President of the Brazilian Olympic
Committee and an IOC Honorary Member Carlos Arthur Nuzman. The chairman of the
Rio 2016 Organising Committee was allegedly implicated in a vote-buying scheme
associated with the host selection process for the 2016 Olympic Games. Consequently,
<a href="https://www.olympic.org/news/decision-of-the-ioc-executive-board-regarding-mr-carlos-nuzman-and-the-brazilian-olympic-committee">the IOC Executive Board provisionally suspended Mr Nuzman</a> from his function as an IOC Honorary Member and further
decided to withdraw him from the Coordination Commission for the 2020 Olympic
Games in Tokyo. Moreover, the IOC also provisionally suspended the Brazilian
Olympic Committee, noting that this decision shall not affect Brazilian athletes.
Subsequently, Mr Nuzman <a href="http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/olympics_2016/article-4971998/Brazil-Olympic-Committee-president-Carlos-Nuzman-resigns.html">resigned</a> as the President of the Brazilian Olympic Committee.
On 31 October 2017, the IOC <a href="https://www.olympic.org/news/decision-of-the-ioc-executive-board-regarding-the-brazilian-olympic-committee">communicated</a> that the Brazilian Olympic Committee would be allowed
to exercise again its membership rights in associations of National Olympic
Committees. However, the IOC also emphasised that other measures imposed as
part of the provisional suspension of the Brazilian Olympic Committee would
remain in place until the relevant governance issues are addressed to the
satisfaction of the IOC Executive Board. <br></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" align="justify"><i><u>China accused of running a systematic doping programme
in the 1980s and 1990s</u></i></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" align="justify">On 21 October 2017,
a German television broadcasted a <a href="http://www.sportschau.de/doping/doping-chinesische-aerztin-fluechtet-102.html">documentary</a> featuring Xue Yinxian, a 79-year-old Chinese doctor
currently seeking political asylum in Germany. Mrs Yinxian spent a great part
of her life as a physician looking after some of the most prominent Chinese athletes,
in particular the successful gymnasts. In the relevant documentary, she
described a sophisticated state-sponsored doping programme allegedly prevailing in China in the 1980s and 1990s, and demanded
that all medals won by Chinese athletes during the period in question be
withdrawn. In response, <a href="https://www.wada-ama.org/en/media/news/2017-10/wada-statement-on-german-television-documentary-alleging-systematic-doping-in">the World Anti-Doping Agency informed</a> that it had commissioned its Intelligence and
Investigations team to initiate an investigative process in this regard. </p>
<p class="MsoNormal" align="justify"><i><u>Preliminary ruling of the European Court of Justice in
the case involving the English Bridge Union</u></i></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" align="justify">Duplicate bridge is
not a sport, at least not for the purposes of the <a href="http://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/PDF/?uri=CELEX:32006L0112&amp;from=EN">Council Directive 2006/112/EC</a> on the common system of value added tax (<b><i>VAT
Directive</i></b>). This conclusion was reached by the judges of the European
Court of Justice in the <a href="http://curia.europa.eu/juris/document/document.jsf;jsessionid=9ea7d0f130d5f03cab0818d347beaeb7ef4149c4006d.e34KaxiLc3eQc40LaxqMbN4PaNeMe0?text=&amp;docid=196124&amp;pageIndex=0&amp;doclang=en&amp;mode=lst&amp;dir=&amp;occ=first&amp;part=1&amp;cid=1007702">preliminary ruling</a> proceedings involving the English Bridge Union and
the Commissioners for Her Majesty's Revenue &amp; Customs. Most importantly,
the Court asserted that ''<i>an activity
such as duplicate bridge, which is characterised by a physical element that appears
to be negligible, is not covered by the concept of 'sport' within the meaning
of the VAT Directive</i>''. </p>
<p class="MsoNormal" align="justify">&nbsp;</p>
<p class="MsoNormal" align="justify"><b>Sports Law Related Decisions</b></p>
<p align="justify"><ul><li>European
Court of Justice – <a href="http://curia.europa.eu/juris/document/document.jsf;jsessionid=9ea7d0f130d5f03cab0818d347beaeb7ef4149c4006d.e34KaxiLc3eQc40LaxqMbN4PaNeMe0?text=&amp;docid=196124&amp;pageIndex=0&amp;doclang=en&amp;mode=lst&amp;dir=&amp;occ=first&amp;part=1&amp;cid=1007702">Decision in the case between the English Bridge Union
Limited and the Commissioners for Her Majesty's Revenue &amp; Customs</a></li><li>&nbsp;ITF – <a href="http://www.itftennis.com/media/274164/274164.pdf">Decision under the 2017 Tennis Anti-Doping Programme
in the case of Daniel Evans</a></li></ul></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" align="justify">&nbsp;</p>
<p class="MsoNormal" align="justify"><b>Official Documents and Press Releases</b></p>
<p align="justify"><ul><li>CAS – <a href="http://www.tas-cas.org/fileadmin/user_upload/Media_Release_4839.pdf">The appeal filed by high jumper Anna Chicherova
dismissed</a></li><li>FIFA – <a href="http://www.fifa.com/about-fifa/news/y=2017/m=10/news=fifa-council-statement-on-the-final-report-by-the-fifa-monitoring-comm-2917741.html">FIFA Council Statement on the final report by the FIFA
Monitoring Committee Israel-Palestine</a></li><li>FIFA –<b> </b><a href="http://www.fifa.com/governance/news/y=2017/m=10/news=fifa-suspends-the-pakistan-football-federation-2913299.html">FIFA suspends the Pakistan Football Federation</a></li><li>IOC – <a href="https://stillmed.olympic.org/media/Document%20Library/OlympicOrg/Games/Winter-Games/Games-2026-Winter-Olympic-Games/Candidature-Process-Olympic-Winter-Games-2026-Final-September%202017.pdf#_ga=2.267488716.336189243.1509362212-1915251872.1489056376">Candidature Process for the Olympic Winter Games 2026</a></li><li>IOC –<b> </b><a href="https://stillmed.olympic.org/media/Document%20Library/OlympicOrg/Games/Winter-Games/Games-2026-Winter-Olympic-Games/Candidature-Questionnaire-2026.pdf#_ga=2.130237005.336189243.1509362212-1915251872.1489056376">Candidature Questionnaire for the Olympic Winter Games
2026</a></li><li>IOC –<b> </b><a href="https://www.olympic.org/news/decision-of-the-ioc-executive-board-regarding-mr-carlos-nuzman-and-the-brazilian-olympic-committee">Decision of the IOC Executive Board regarding Mr
Carlos Nuzman and the Brazilian Olympic Committee</a></li><li>IOC –<b> </b><a href="https://www.olympic.org/news/decision-of-the-ioc-executive-board-regarding-the-brazilian-olympic-committee">Decision of the IOC Executive Board regarding the
Brazilian Olympic Committee</a></li><li>IOC –<b> </b><a href="https://www.olympic.org/news/ioc-launches-a-new-approach-to-the-candidature-process-for-the-olympic-winter-games-2026">IOC launches a new approach to the Candidature Process
for the Olympic Winter Games 2026</a></li><li>Tennis
Integrity Unit –<b> </b><a href="http://www.tennisintegrityunit.com/storage/app/media/Media%20Releases/TIU%20Briefing%20Note%20October%202017.pdf">Briefing note October 2017</a></li><li>UEFA – <a href="http://www.uefa.com/insideuefa/about-uefa/news/newsid=2510176.html#/">2016/17 solidarity payments for youth development</a></li><li>UEFA –<b> </b><a href="https://www.uefa.com/insideuefa/protecting-the-game/club-licensing-and-financial-fair-play/news/newsid=2513290.html?rss=2513290+Club+licensing+and+FFP+keeps+clubs+on+positive+course#/">Club licensing and FFP keeps clubs on positive course</a></li><li>UEFA –<b> </b><a href="http://www.uefa.com/insideuefa/mediaservices/mediareleases/newsid=2509418.html#/">UEFA and FARE network unite to promote inclusion,
diversity and accessibility</a></li><li>UNI
Global Union – <a href="http://www.uniglobalunion.org/news/human-rights-are-also-player-rights">Human rights are also player rights</a></li><li>WADA – <a href="https://www.wada-ama.org/sites/default/files/resources/files/ioc_adr_pyeongchang_2018_eng.pdf">Anti-Doping Rules applicable to the Olympic Winter
Games PyeongChang 2018</a></li><li>WADA –<b> </b><a href="https://www.wada-ama.org/en/media/news/2017-10/wada-statement-on-german-television-documentary-alleging-systematic-doping-in">Statement on German television documentary alleging
systematic doping in China during the 1980s and 1990s</a></li><li>WADA –<b> </b><a href="https://www.wada-ama.org/en/media/news/2017-10/wada-executive-committee-ratifies-board-membership-for-independent-testing">WADA Executive Committee ratifies Board Membership for
Independent Testing Authority</a></li><li>WADA –<b> </b><a href="https://www.wada-ama.org/en/media/news/2017-10/wada-publishes-2016-testing-figures-report">WADA publishes 2016 Testing Figures Report</a></li></ul></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" align="justify"><b>&nbsp;</b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" align="justify"><b>In the news</b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" align="justify"><i>Doping</i></p>
<p align="justify"><ul><li>Associated
Press <a href="http://www.espn.com/olympics/story/_/id/20978520/court-arbitration-sport-uses-mclaren-report-uphold-russian-doping-case">CAS uses McLaren report to uphold doping suspension</a></li><li>Associated
Press <a href="https://www.yahoo.com/news/italian-cyclist-pirazzi-gets-4-ban-pre-giro-151414629.html">Italian cyclist Pirazzi gets 4-year ban for pre-Giro
doping</a></li><li>Andy
Brown <a href="http://www.sportsintegrityinitiative.com/nado-italia-sanctions-five-athletes-anti-doping-rule-violations/">NADO Italia announces five sanctions for anti-doping
rule violations</a></li><li>Rob
Draper and Nick Harris <a href="http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/doping/article-4699856/IOC-did-not-want-drug-samples-retested-avoid-scandals.html">IOC 'did not want drug samples retested to avoid
scandals' claims explosive memo sent to the KGB</a></li><li>Sean
Ingle <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2017/oct/22/china-compulsory-doping-olympic-athletes-claims-whistleblower-athletics">China 'compulsorily doped' athletes in 1980s and 90s,
claims whistleblower</a></li><li>Martha
Kelner <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2017/oct/10/call-for-athletes-to-be-fitted-with-microchips-fight-against-drug-cheats">Call for athletes to be fitted with microchips in
fight against drug cheats</a></li><li>RT News
<a href="https://www.rt.com/shows/sophieco/407261-russia-winter-olympics-2018/">Russian Sports Minister: People must own up to
mistakes, but collective responsibility is wrong</a></li><li>Sportschau
<a href="http://www.sportschau.de/doping/doping-chinesische-aerztin-fluechtet-102.html">China's doped ascent to sports superpower</a></li><li>TASS <a href="http://tass.com/sport/970333">Russian Olympic chief: IOC received full report on
Russia's anti-doping fight progress</a></li></ul></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" align="justify"><i>Football</i></p>
<p align="justify"><ul><li>Al
Jazeera <a href="http://www.aljazeera.com/news/2017/10/fifa-delays-action-israeli-settlement-teams-171027124839956.html">FIFA will not take action on Israeli settlement teams</a></li><li>Associated
Press <a href="http://www.dailymail.co.uk/wires/ap/article-4969330/Former-FIFA-official-Valcke-appeals-ban-soccer.html">Former FIFA official Valcke testifies in soccer ban
appeal</a></li><li>BBC
News <a href="http://www.bbc.com/sport/football/41498052">Adrien Silva: Leicester City do not rule out CAS appeal
over signing</a></li><li>Michael
Church <a href="https://uk.reuters.com/article/uk-soccer-china-csl/chinese-super-league-to-bring-in-foreign-refs-for-final-rounds-idUKKBN1CH2DQ">Chinese Super League to bring in foreign referees for
final rounds</a></li><li>CIES
Football Observatory <a href="http://www.football-observatory.com/IMG/sites/b5wp/2017/198/en/">Apollon Limassol at the top of the expatriate table</a></li><li>David
Conn <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/football/2017/oct/12/psg-chairman-nasser-al-khelaifi-accused-world-cup-bribery">PSG chairman Nasser al-Khelaifi accused of World Cup
bribe by Swiss prosecutor</a></li><li>European
Professional Football Leagues <a href="http://mailchi.mp/fb80af97d9db/ayq6e6qruz-1117665">Legal Newsletter</a></li><li>Brian
Homewood <a href="https://uk.reuters.com/article/uk-soccer-fifa-transfers/soccer-fifa-hopeful-transfer-system-complaint-will-be-withdrawn-idUKKBN1CO2P6">FIFA hopeful transfer system complaint will be
withdrawn</a></li><li>Jack
Newsham <a href="https://www.law360.com/sports/articles/975587?utm_content=buffer2dd54&amp;utm_medium=social&amp;utm_source=twitter.com&amp;utm_campaign=buffer">Jury to be kept from media in FIFA corruption case</a></li><li>Tariq
Panja <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2017/10/06/sports/soccer/brazil-women-soccer.html?partner=rss&amp;emc=rss&amp;_r=0">Brazil's women soccer players in revolt against
federation</a></li><li>Tariq Panja <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2017/10/26/sports/soccer/fifa-world-cup.html">How did a tiny Swiss company quietly secure valuable
World Cup TV rights?</a></li><li>Qatar Tribune
<a href="http://www.qatar-tribune.com/news-details/id/90935">Kuwait and FIFA reach agreement on country's sports
law</a></li><li>Reuters
<a href="http://www.reuters.com/article/us-soccer-fifa-nationalities/fifa-to-look-into-changing-nationality-rules-idUSKBN1CO31N">FIFA to look into changing nationality rules</a></li><li>Reuters
<a href="http://www.skysports.com/football/news/11095/11069613/ricardo-carvalho-given-prison-sentence-for-tax-fraud-in-spain">Ricardo Carvalho given prison sentence for tax fraud in
Spain</a></li><li>Grant
Wahl <a href="https://www.si.com/soccer/2017/10/08/fifa-women-soccer-equal-pay-norway-gianni-infantino">What FIFA and the rest of the world can learn from
Norway's equitable pay agreement</a></li><li>World
Sports Advocate <a href="http://www.cecileparkmedia.com/world-sports-advocate/article_template.asp?Contents=Yes&amp;from=wslr&amp;ID=2013">Interview with Miguel Maduro, former chair of FIFA's
Governance Committee</a></li></ul></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" align="justify"><i>Other</i></p><p align="justify"><ul><li>Matthew
Allen <a href="https://www.swissinfo.ch/eng/economics-of-sport_swiss-economy-to-benefit-from-olympics-and-world-cup/43573594">Swiss economy to benefit from Olympics and World Cup</a></li></ul><ul><li>Andy
Brown <a href="http://www.sportsintegrityinitiative.com/worleys-case-opens-courts-athlete-human-rights-cases/">Worley's case opens the courts to athlete human rights
cases</a></li><li>Nick
Butler <a href="https://www.insidethegames.biz/articles/1056254/ioc-members-raise-concerns-over-reputational-damage-to-olympic-movement-following-corruption-allegations">IOC members raise concerns over reputational damage to
Olympic Movement following corruption allegations</a></li><li>Nick Butler <a href="https://www.insidethegames.biz/articles/1057272/nick-butler-olympic-summit-a-missed-opportunity-to-make-a-decisive-statement">Olympic summit a missed opportunity to make a decisive
statement</a></li><li>Nick Butler <a href="https://www.insidethegames.biz/articles/1057238/olympic-summit-calls-for-all-athlete-commissions-to-be-elected-in-apparent-dig-at-wada">Olympic summit calls for all athlete commissions to be
elected in apparent dig at WADA</a></li><li>Sayan
Das <a href="http://www.givemesport.com/1167856-british-tennis-player-reveals-match-fixing-offer-at-tournament-in-greece">British tennis player reveals match-fixing offer at
tournament in Greece</a></li><li>Martha Kelner <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/2017/oct/05/brazilian-police-arrest-olympics-chief-carlos-arthur-nuzman-bribery-investigation">Rio 2016 Olympic chief Carlos Nuzman arrested in
corruption investigation</a></li><li>Yoon
Min-Sik <a href="http://nwww.koreaherald.com/view.php?ud=20171011000896">PyeongChang Olympics ticket sales get icy reception</a></li><li>Sporting
Life <a href="https://www.sportinglife.com/tennis/news/65-%27alerts%27-over-betting-patterns/112648">Tennis Integrity Unit reveals 65 'match alerts' received
in third quarter of 2017 of suspicious betting patterns</a></li><li>Sportschau
<a href="http://www.sportschau.de/weitere/allgemein/video-german-olympic-athletes-ready-to-set-up-an-autonomous-athletes-organisation-100.html">German Olympic athletes ready to set up an autonomous
athletes organisation</a></li></ul></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" align="justify"><b>&nbsp;</b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" align="justify"><b>Academic Materials</b></p>
<p align="justify"><ul><li>&nbsp;Michael
A. McCann <a href="https://global.oup.com/academic/product/the-oxford-handbook-of-american-sports-law-9780190465957?cc=us&amp;lang=en&amp;">The Oxford Handbook of American Sports Law</a></li></ul></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" align="justify"><b>&nbsp;</b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" align="justify"><b>Blog</b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" align="justify"><i>Asser International Sports Law Blog</i></p>
<p align="justify"><ul><li>Christopher Flanagan <a href="http://www.asser.nl/SportsLaw/Blog/post/the-evolution-of-uefa-s-financial-fair-play-rules-part-3-past-reforms-and-uncertain-future-by-christopher-flanagan">The Evolution of UEFA's Financial Fair Play Rules – Part 3: Past Reforms
and Uncertain Future</a></li><li>Tomáš Grell <a href="http://www.asser.nl/SportsLaw/Blog/post/multi-club-ownership-in-european-football-part-i-general-introduction-and-the-enic-saga-by-tomas-grell">Multi-Club Ownership in European
Football – Part 1: General Introduction and the ENIC Saga</a></li><li>Tomáš Grell <a href="http://www.asser.nl/SportsLaw/Blog/post/multi-club-ownership-in-european-football-part-ii-the-concept-of-decisive-influence-in-the-red-bull-case-by-tomas-grell">Multi-Club Ownership in European
Football – Part 2: The Concept of Decisive Influence in the Red Bull Case</a></li><li>Josep F. Vandellos Alamilla <a href="http://www.asser.nl/SportsLaw/Blog/post/the-limits-to-multiple-representation-by-football-intermediaries-under-fifa-rules-and-swiss-law-by-josep-f-vandellos-alamilla">The Limits to Multiple Representation by Football Intermediaries under FIFA
Rules and Swiss Law</a></li></ul></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" align="justify"><i>Law in Sport</i>&nbsp;
</p><p align="justify"><ul><li>Roberto
Carlos Branco Martins and Matthew Graham <a href="https://www.lawinsport.com/articles/item/how-football-intermediaries-are-regulated-in-the-netherlands-the-role-of-proagent">How football intermediaries are regulated in the
Netherlands: The role of pro-agent</a></li><li>Rebecca
Carlyon and Kate Molan <a href="https://www.lawinsport.com/articles/item/the-lifecycle-of-an-international-athlete-part-6-dealing-with-divorce">The lifecycle of an international athlete – Part 6:
Dealing with divorce</a></li><li>Jeremy
Clarke-Williams <a href="https://www.lawinsport.com/articles/item/the-lifecycle-of-an-international-athlete-part-7-protecting-your-reputation">The lifecycle of an international athlete – Part 7:
Protecting your reputation</a></li><li>Clare
Coley <a href="https://www.lawinsport.com/articles/item/the-lifecycle-of-an-international-athlete-part-5-important-pension-considerations">The lifecycle of an international athlete – Part 5:
Important pension considerations</a></li><li>Philip
Hutchinson <a href="https://www.lawinsport.com/articles/item/key-changes-in-wada-s-2018-prohibited-list-ivs-gene-doping">Key changes in WADA's 2018 Prohibited List: IVS &amp;
gene doping</a></li><li>&nbsp;Nan Sato and Shoichi
Sugiyama <a href="https://www.lawinsport.com/articles/item/must-athletes-prove-how-a-banned-substance-entered-their-body-to-establish-lack-of-intention">Must athletes prove how a banned substance entered
their body to establish lack of intention?</a></li><li>Duncan
Taylor <a href="https://www.lawinsport.com/articles/item/the-lifecycle-of-an-international-athlete-part-8-navigating-the-uk-property-market">The lifecycle of an international athlete – Part 8:
Navigating the UK property market</a></li></ul></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" align="justify"><i>Others</i></p>
<p align="justify"><ul><li>Stephen
Nathan <a href="https://www.sportslawbulletin.org/tax-raid-premier-league-club-lawful/">Tax raid on Premier League club lawful</a></li><li>Grigory
Rodchenkov <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2017/09/22/opinion/russia-olympic-doping-rodchenkov.html?_r=0">Russia's Olympic cheating, unpunished</a></li><li>Eran
Yashiv <a href="http://voxeu.org/article/neymar-bubble">The value of top footballers, bubbles, and pitfalls of
the free market</a> </li></ul></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" align="justify">&nbsp;</p>
<p class="MsoNormal" align="justify"><b>Upcoming Events</b></p>
<p align="justify"><ul><li>16
November – <a href="https://www.eventbrite.com/e/first-wislaw-annual-conference-general-assembly-tickets-37334429283">WISLaw Annual Conference and General Assembly</a>, Madrid, Spain</li><li>26-30
November – <a href="http://playthegame.org/news/news-articles/2017/0304_registration-for-play-the-game-2017-is-open/">Play the Game 2017: Riding Waves of Change</a>, Eindhoven, the Netherlands</li><li>16
March 2018 – <a href="https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/sports-law-and-business-conference-manchester-tickets-39401863033?aff=es2">Sports Law &amp; Business Conference</a>, Etihad Stadium, Manchester, England</li></ul></p>
http://www.asser.nl/SportsLaw/Blog/post/international-and-european-sports-law-monthly-report-october-2017-by-tomas-grell
http://www.asser.nl/SportsLaw/Blog/post/international-and-european-sports-law-monthly-report-october-2017-by-tomas-grell#commenthttp://www.asser.nl/SportsLaw/Blog/post.aspx?id=12ae9be2-0ca8-4bea-9a30-e54027e895feTue, 07 Nov 2017 13:11:00 +0200BlogInternational Sports Law CasesInternational Sports Law EventsInternational Sports Law MaterialInternational Sports Law PublicationsAntoine Duvalhttp://www.asser.nl/SportsLaw/Blog/pingback.axdhttp://www.asser.nl/SportsLaw/Blog/post.aspx?id=12ae9be2-0ca8-4bea-9a30-e54027e895fe0http://www.asser.nl/SportsLaw/Blog/trackback.axd?id=12ae9be2-0ca8-4bea-9a30-e54027e895fehttp://www.asser.nl/SportsLaw/Blog/post/international-and-european-sports-law-monthly-report-october-2017-by-tomas-grell#commenthttp://www.asser.nl/SportsLaw/Blog/syndication.axd?post=12ae9be2-0ca8-4bea-9a30-e54027e895feInternational and European Sports Law – Monthly Report – September 2017. By Tomáš Grell
<p class="MsoNormal"><b>Editor's note:</b> This report compiles all relevant news, events and
materials on International and European Sports Law based on the daily coverage
provided on our twitter feed <a href="https://twitter.com/sportslaw_asser">@Sportslaw_asser.</a> You
are invited to complete this survey via the comments section below, feel free
to add links to important cases, documents and articles we might have
overlooked.
</p><p class="MsoNormal"><b>&nbsp;</b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b>The Headlines</b>&nbsp;
</p><p class="MsoNormal"><i><u>2024 and 2028 Olympic Games to be held in Paris and
Los Angeles respectively</u></i></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">On 13 September 2017,
the Session of the International Olympic Committee (<b><i>IOC</i></b>) held in Lima, Peru, <a href="https://www.olympic.org/news/ioc-makes-historic-decision-by-simultaneously-awarding-olympic-games-2024-to-paris-and-2028-to-los-angeles">elected</a> Paris and Los Angeles as host cities of the 2024 and
2028 Olympic Games respectively. On this occasion, the IOC President Thomas
Bach said that ''<i>this historic double
allocation is a 'win-win-win' situation for the city of Paris, the city of Los
Angeles and the IOC</i>''. The idea of a tripartite agreement whereby two
editions of the Olympic Games would be awarded at the same time was presented
by a working group of the IOC Vice-Presidents established in March 2017. Both
Paris and Los Angeles have pledged to make the Olympic Games cost-efficient, in
particular through the use of a record-breaking number of existing and
temporary facilities. In addition to economic aspects, it will be worthwhile to
keep an eye on how both cities will address human rights and other similar concerns
that may arise in the run-up to the Olympic Games.&nbsp;</p><p class="MsoNormal"><i><u>FIFA President accused of interfering with the work of
the FIFA Governance Committee</u></i></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">On 13 September
2017, Miguel Maduro, a former Chair of the FIFA Governance Committee who was <a href="https://www.ft.com/content/79ed66e2-3504-11e7-bce4-9023f8c0fd2e?mhq5j=e7">summarily dismissed in May 2017</a>, appeared in the UK House of Commons to give <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/football/2017/sep/13/fifa-gianni-infantino-governance-committee-vitaly-mutko">testimony</a> on the undue influence that FIFA's President Gianni
Infantino allegedly exerted over the work of the Governance Committee. Most
importantly, Maduro claimed that Infantino attempted to interfere with the
Governance Committee's decision to bar Vitaly Mutko, a Deputy Prime Minister of
Russia, from sitting on the FIFA Council. The former Chair of the Governance
Committee commented that Infantino ''<i>chose
to politically survive</i>'' and carried on to assert that FIFA has a ''<i>deeply embedded structure that is extremely
resistant to independent scrutiny, transparency and accountability</i>''. FIFA
denied Maduro's accusations, stating that ''<i>exchanges
between the administration and FIFA's committees</i> […] <i>are logical and even desirable, so for these exchanges to be portrayed
as undue influence is factually incorrect</i>''.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><i><u>The CAS award in Jersey
Football Association v. UEFA</u></i></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">In its <a href="http://www.tas-cas.org/fileadmin/user_upload/Media_Release_4787.pdf">press release</a> of 28 September 2017, the CAS communicated that it
had delivered an award in the dispute between the Jersey Football Association (<b><i>JFA</i></b>)
and UEFA which emerged from the JFA's application for UEFA membership submitted
in December 2015. The CAS set aside the decision rendered by the UEFA Executive
Committee on 1 September 2016 in which the JFA's application for UEFA
membership was rejected, and ordered that the respective application be
forwarded to the UEFA Congress for consideration. In view of the CAS, it is the
UEFA Congress and not the UEFA Executive Committee that is competent to
consider membership applications. It should be stressed, however, that the CAS
dismissed the JFA's request to ''<i>take all
necessary measures to admit the JFA as a full member of UEFA without delay</i>'',
noting that the UEFA Congress has discretionary powers to admit new members. In
this regard, the CAS further held that, on the basis of the evidence provided,
it appeared that the JFA did not satisfy the requirements for UEFA membership
laid down in Article 5(1) of the <a href="http://www.uefa.com/MultimediaFiles/Download/OfficialDocument/uefaorg/WhatUEFAis/02/50/26/15/2502615_DOWNLOAD.pdf">UEFA Statutes</a>.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b>Official Documents and Press Releases</b></p>
<ul><li>CAS – <a href="http://www.tas-cas.org/fileadmin/user_upload/Media_Release_4787.pdf">The CAS rules on the case Jersey Football Association
v. UEFA</a></li><li>Human
Rights Now – <a href="http://hrn.or.jp/eng/news/2017/09/12/joint-letters-tokyo-olympics-construction/">Letters demanding that Olympic authorities end
rainforest destruction and human rights abuses connected to Tokyo 2020 Olympics
construction</a></li><li>Human Rights Watch – <a href="https://www.hrw.org/news/2017/09/27/qatar-take-urgent-action-protect-construction-workers">Qatar: Take urgent action to protect construction
workers</a></li><li>IOC – <a href="https://www.olympic.org/news/declaration-of-the-ioc-executive-board-in-lima">Declaration of the IOC Executive Board in Lima</a></li><li>IOC – <a href="https://hub.olympic.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/09/IOC-Athletes-Commission-Strategy-All-In-September-2017-For-IOC-EB-approval-1.pdf">IOC Athletes' Commission Strategy</a></li><li>IOC –<b> </b><a href="https://www.olympic.org/news/ioc-makes-historic-decision-by-simultaneously-awarding-olympic-games-2024-to-paris-and-2028-to-los-angeles">IOC makes historic decision by simultaneously awarding
Olympic Games 2024 to Paris and 2028 to Los Angeles</a></li><li>IOC –<b> </b><a href="https://stillmed.olympic.org/media/Document%20Library/OlympicOrg/Games/Summer-Games/2028-Los-Angeles/IOC-2028-Evaluation-Commission-report.pdf#_ga=2.172587171.1453457232.1507661397-399469983.1491509727">Report of the IOC 2028 Evaluation Commission</a></li><li>UEFA – <a href="http://www.uefa.com/insideuefa/mediaservices/mediareleases/newsid=2502743.html">13<sup>th</sup> Extraordinary UEFA Congress decisions</a></li><li>UEFA – <a href="http://www.uefa.com/insideuefa/about-uefa/organisation/congress/news/newsid=2502802.html#keeping+competitive+balance+aleksander+ceferin">Keeping competitive balance – Aleksander Čeferin</a></li><li>UEFA – <a href="http://www.uefa.com/insideuefa/mediaservices/mediareleases/newsid=2501736.html">Nations League regulations approved</a></li><li>UEFA – <a href="http://www.uefa.com/insideuefa/mediaservices/newsid=2501199.html">UEFA President reflects on a rewarding year of
progress</a></li><li>WADA –<b> </b><a href="https://www.wada-ama.org/sites/default/files/prohibited_list_2018_en.pdf">2018 List of Prohibited Substances and Methods</a></li><li>WADA –<b> </b><a href="https://www.wada-ama.org/sites/default/files/prohibited_list_2018_summary_of_modifications_en.pdf">2018 Summary of major modifications and explanatory
notes</a></li><li>WADA – <a href="https://www.wada-ama.org/en/resources/code-compliance/proposed-international-standard-for-code-compliance-by-signatories-isccs">Proposed International Standard for Code Compliance by
Signatories – Version 2.0</a></li><li>WADA –<b> </b><a href="https://www.wada-ama.org/en/media/news/2017-09/tanzania-ratifies-unesco-anti-doping-convention">Tanzania ratifies UNESCO Anti-Doping Convention</a></li><li>WADA – <a href="https://www.wada-ama.org/en/media/news/2017-09/wada-launches-phase-ii-of-stakeholder-consultation-on-compliance-standard">WADA launches Phase II of stakeholder consultation on
Compliance Standard</a></li><li>WADA –<b> </b><a href="https://www.wada-ama.org/en/media/news/2017-09/wada-provisionally-suspends-accreditation-of-paris-laboratory">WADA provisionally suspends accreditation of Paris
Laboratory</a></li></ul>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast"><b>&nbsp;</b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b>In the news</b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><i>Doping</i></p>
<ul><li>Associated
Press <a href="http://www.espn.com/olympics/story/_/id/20847506/russian-doping-whistleblower-grigory-rodchenkov-faces-arrest-returns">Russian doping whistleblower faces arrest if he
returns</a></li><li>Sean
Ingle <a href="https://amp.theguardian.com/sport/2017/sep/14/anti-doping-agencies-tell-ioc-ban-russia-2018-winter-olympics">Anti-doping agencies call on IOC to ban Russia from
2018 Winter Olympics</a></li><li>Tariq
Panja <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2017/09/15/sports/russian-doping-ioc.html">IOC investigation of Russian doping might soon yield
penalties</a></li><li>RT News
<a href="https://www.rt.com/sport/402115-richard-mclaren-denies-dropped-charges/">McLaren denies he 'dropped charges' of state
involvement in doping in Russia</a></li><li>Swimming
World <a href="https://www.swimmingworldmagazine.com/news/update-court-of-arbitration-reduces-sanctions-on-canadian-swimmer-william-brothers/">Court of Arbitration for Sport reduces sanctions on
Canadian swimmer William Brothers</a></li></ul>
<p class="MsoNormal"><i>Football</i></p>
<ul><li>Ed
Aarons <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/football/2017/sep/27/fifa-uefa-tax-evasion-football-meps">FIFA and UEFA accused of being 'enablers' of tax evasion in football by MEPs</a></li><li>CIES
Football Observatory <a href="http://www.football-observatory.com/IMG/sites/b5wp/2017/193/en/">Balance sheets for transfer operations: From Monaco to
Paris St-Germain</a></li><li>David
Conn <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/football/2017/sep/13/fifa-gianni-infantino-governance-committee-vitaly-mutko">FIFA's Infantino accused of interfering with
governance committee decisions</a></li><li>David
Conn <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/football/2017/sep/14/fifa-gianni-infantino-accused-bad-governance-commons-select-committee?CMP=share_btn_tw">FIFA President Gianni Infantino accused of bad
governance by former committee member</a></li><li>Paul Ferguson <a href="http://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/sport/football/world-cup/irish-fa-to-ask-fifa-for-money-back-after-poppy-uturn-36168655.html">Irish FA to ask FIFA for money back after poppy u-turn</a></li><li>FIFPro <a href="https://www.fifpro.org/news/danish-women-s-world-cup-conflict-explained/en/">Danish women's World Cup conflict explained</a></li><li>Rob
Harris <a href="https://apnews.com/f2aeb1ea605d4dafb07d568461addd1a?utm_campaign=SocialFlow&amp;utm_source=Twitter&amp;utm_medium=AP_Sports">Spanish league wants UEFA to investigate Man City's
spending</a></li><li>Steve
Menary <a href="http://www.playthegame.org/news/news-articles/2017/0348_tebas-calls-for-european-union-probe-into-neymar-transfer/">Tebas calls for European Union probe into Neymar
transfer</a></li><li>Tariq
Panja <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2017/09/13/sports/soccer/fifa-gianni-infantino-ethics-complaint.html?mcubz=0">FIFA President Gianni Infantino faces new ethics
complaint</a></li><li>Tariq
Panja <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2017/09/10/sports/soccer/fifa-infantino-ethics-maduro.html?mcubz=3">Former FIFA official's testimony could raise new
ethics questions</a></li><li>John Percy <a href="http://www.telegraph.co.uk/football/2017/09/25/leicester-city-submit-appeal-fifa-bid-complete-25m-adrien-silva/">Leicester City submit appeal to FIFA in bid to
complete £25 million Adrien Silva signing</a></li><li>Ben
Rumsby <a href="http://www.telegraph.co.uk/football/2017/09/20/chelsea-face-third-fifa-investigation-eight-years-youth-transfer/">Chelsea face second FIFA investigation in eight years
over youth transfer policy</a> <br></li></ul>
<p class="MsoNormal"><i>Other</i></p>
<ul><li>BBC
News <a href="http://www.bbc.com/sport/athletics/41346447">Sergey Bubka: Athletics Integrity Unit looking into
payment to ex-IAAF treasurer</a></li><li>Tim
Daniels <a href="http://bleacherreport.com/articles/2731710-prosecutors-allege-brazils-olympic-committee-conspired-to-buy-ioc-votes">Prosecutors allege Brazil's Olympic Committee
conspired to buy IOC votes</a></li><li>Marina
Hyde <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/sport/blog/2017/sep/06/ioc-rio-2016-corruption-vote-buying">IOC selective blindness continues but Rio 2016 scandal
looks all too familiar</a></li><li>Liam
Morgan <a href="https://www.insidethegames.biz/articles/1055278/ioc-admit-votes-may-have-been-bought-by-diack-in-olympic-games-bidding-process">IOC admit votes may have been bought by Diack in
Olympic Games bidding process</a></li><li>Sebastian
Smith <a href="https://sports.yahoo.com/brazil-police-launch-raids-rio-olympics-vote-buying-003033030--oly.html">Brazil police say Rio Olympics were bought in corrupt
scheme</a></li></ul>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast"><br></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b>Academic Materials</b></p>
<ul><li>Antoine
Duval and Oskar van Maren <a href="http://journals.sagepub.com/eprint/qVwRQECjQE8kce6EqStK/full">The Labour Status of Professional Football Players in
the European Union: Unity in/and/or Diversity?</a></li></ul><p><br></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b>Blog</b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><i>Asser International Sports Law Blog</i></p>
<ul><li>Christopher Flanagan <a href="http://www.asser.nl/SportsLaw/Blog/post/the-evolution-of-uefa-s-financial-fair-play-rules-part-1-background-and-eu-law-by-christopher-flanagan">The Evolution of UEFA's Financial Fair Play Rules – Part 1: Background and EU
Law</a></li><li>Christopher Flanagan <a href="http://www.asser.nl/SportsLaw/Blog/post/the-evolution-of-uefa-s-financial-fair-play-rules-part-2-the-legal-challenges-by-christopher-flanagan">The Evolution of UEFA's Financial Fair Play Rules – Part 2: The Legal Challenges</a></li><li>Tomáš Grell <a href="http://www.asser.nl/SportsLaw/Blog/post/fifa-s-human-rights-agenda-is-the-game-beautiful-again-by-tomas-grell">FIFA's Human Rights Agenda: Is the Game Beautiful
Again?</a></li></ul>
<p class="MsoNormal"><i>Law in Sport</i></p>
<ul><li>Jack
Anderson and Neil Partington <a href="https://www.lawinsport.com/articles/item/duty-of-care-in-sport-making-the-case-for-a-sports-ombudsman-in-the-uk">Duty of care in sport: The case for a sports ombudsman
in the UK</a></li><li>Hazar
El-Chamaa <a href="https://www.lawinsport.com/articles/item/the-lifecycle-of-an-international-athlete-part-2-key-immigration-issues-when-entering-the-uk">The lifecycle of an international athlete: Part 2 –
Key immigration issues when entering the UK</a></li><li>Laura
Dadswell <a href="https://www.lawinsport.com/articles/item/the-lifecycle-of-an-international-athlete-part-3-key-uk-income-tax-points-for-non-residents">The lifecycle of an international athlete: Part 3 –
Key UK income tax points for non-residents</a></li><li>Tim
Meakin, Tim Walker and Richard Davies <a href="https://www.lawinsport.com/articles/item/confidential-data-leaks-what-are-the-vicarious-liability-risks-for-sports-organisations">Confidential data leaks: What are the vicarious
liability risks for sports organizations?</a></li><li>John
Mehrzad <a href="https://www.lawinsport.com/articles/item/who-has-jurisdiction-over-international-football-transfer-disputes">Who has jurisdiction over international football
transfer disputes?</a></li><li>Michael
Savva <a href="https://www.lawinsport.com/articles/item/an-update-on-financial-fair-play-case-study-the-neymar-transfer">An update on Financial Fair Play – Case study: The
Neymar transfer</a></li><li>Gavin
Stenton <a href="https://www.lawinsport.com/articles/item/the-lifecycle-of-an-international-athlete-part-4-dealing-with-branding-image-rights?category_id=112">The lifecycle of an international athlete: Part 4 –
Dealing with branding and image rights</a></li></ul>
<p class="MsoNormal"><i>Others</i></p>
<ul><li>James
M. Dorsey <a href="http://playthegame.org/news/comments/2017/047_tackling-the-elephant-in-the-room-the-incestuous-and-inseparable-relationship-between-sports-and-politics/">Tackling the elephant in the room: The incestuous and
inseparable relationship between sports and politics</a></li><li>Simon
Kuper <a href="http://www.nybooks.com/articles/2017/09/28/soccers-culture-of-corruption/">Soccer's culture of corruption</a></li><li>Nick De Marco <a href="https://www.sportslawbulletin.org/new-regulation-football-intermediaries/">New regulation of football intermediaries</a></li></ul>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast">&nbsp;</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b>Upcoming Events</b></p>
<ul><li>26-27
October – <a href="http://www.asser.nl/SportsLaw/Blog/post/call-for-papers-islj-annual-conference-on-international-sports-law-26-27-october-2017">ISLJ Annual Conference on International Sports Law</a>, T.M.C. Asser Institute, The Hague, the Netherlands [<b>We have only a couple of seats left,
register now!]</b></li></ul>
http://www.asser.nl/SportsLaw/Blog/post/international-and-european-sports-law-monthly-report-september-2017-by-tomas-grell
http://www.asser.nl/SportsLaw/Blog/post/international-and-european-sports-law-monthly-report-september-2017-by-tomas-grell#commenthttp://www.asser.nl/SportsLaw/Blog/post.aspx?id=2c6693ce-055d-4a33-93c4-0ac2634ed701Thu, 19 Oct 2017 12:10:00 +0200BlogInternational Sports Law CasesInternational Sports Law CommentariesInternational Sports Law EventsInternational Sports Law MaterialInternational Sports Law PublicationsAntoine Duvalhttp://www.asser.nl/SportsLaw/Blog/pingback.axdhttp://www.asser.nl/SportsLaw/Blog/post.aspx?id=2c6693ce-055d-4a33-93c4-0ac2634ed7010http://www.asser.nl/SportsLaw/Blog/trackback.axd?id=2c6693ce-055d-4a33-93c4-0ac2634ed701http://www.asser.nl/SportsLaw/Blog/post/international-and-european-sports-law-monthly-report-september-2017-by-tomas-grell#commenthttp://www.asser.nl/SportsLaw/Blog/syndication.axd?post=2c6693ce-055d-4a33-93c4-0ac2634ed701The limits to multiple representation by football intermediaries under FIFA rules and Swiss Law - By Josep F. Vandellos Alamilla<b>Editor’s note</b>: Josep F. Vandellos Alamilla is an
international sports lawyer and academic based in Valencia (Spain) and a member
of the Editorial Board of the publication Football Legal. Since 2017 he is the
Director of&nbsp; the Global Master in Sports
Management and Legal Skills FC Barcelona – ISDE.<br><br>
<p class="MsoNormal" align="justify">I think we would all agree that the reputation of
players’ agents, nowadays called intermediaries, has never been a good one for
plenty of reasons. But the truth is their presence in the football industry is
much needed and probably most of the transfers would never take place if these
outcast members of the self-proclaimed <i>football
family</i> were not there to ensure a fluid and smooth communication between all
parties involved. </p>
<p class="MsoNormal" align="justify">For us, sports lawyers, intermediaries are also
important clients as they often need our advice to structure the deals in which
they take part. One of the most recurrent situations faced by intermediaries and
agents operating off-the-radar (i.e. not registered in any football association
member of FIFA) is the risk of entering in a so-called multiparty or dual representation
and the potential risks associated with such a situation.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal" align="justify">The representation of the interests of multiple
parties in football intermediation can take place for instance when the agent represents
the selling club, the buying club and/or the player in the same transfer, or when
the agent is remunerated by multiple parties, and in general when the agent incurs
the risk of jeopardizing the trust deposited upon him/her by the principal. The
situations are multiple and can manifest in different manners.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal" align="justify">This article will briefly outline the regulatory
framework regarding multiparty representation applicable to registered
intermediaries. It will then focus on provisions of Swiss law and the
identification of the limits of dual representation in the light of the CAS
jurisprudence and some relevant decisions of the Swiss Federal Tribunal.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal" align="justify">&nbsp;</p>
<p class="MsoListParagraph" align="justify">A)&nbsp;&nbsp;
<b><u>Regulatory framework</u></b>:</p>
<p class="MsoNormal" align="justify">Those agents acting in the market as registered
intermediaries will necessarily be subjected to the specific football
regulations enacted by FIFA and the national associations in which they
operate. The answer as to the possibility to represent more than one party to a
deal will therefore, be necessarily found in internal rules of each association.&nbsp; </p>
<p class="MsoNormal" align="justify">As opposed to the obsolete <a href="http://resources.fifa.com/mm/document/affederation/administration/51/55/18/players_agents_regulations_2008.pdf">FIFA
Players’ Agent Regulations</a><a href="#_ftn1" name="_ftnref1" title="">[1]</a>,
the <a href="https://www.fifa.com/mm/document/affederation/administration/02/36/77/63/regulationsonworkingwithintermediariesii_neutral.pdf">FIFA
Regulations on Working with Intermediaries</a> (RWWI) allow intermediaries to
represent more than one party in a transaction. Pursuant to the definition of
intermediary<a href="#_ftn2" name="_ftnref2" title="">[2]</a> in
combination with Article 8 RWWI, the only substantive requirement to intermediaries
willing to act for multiple parties is that they obtain prior written consent
and confirmation in writing on which party (i.e. the player and/or the club)
will remunerate the services of the intermediary. The regulations, therefore, prioritize
transparency over the question of who pays for the services of the intermediary.
Consequently, it is not forbidden for an intermediary to represent and be paid
by multiple parties to a transaction, as long as they all know and agree to it
in advance.&nbsp;&nbsp; </p>
<p class="MsoNormal" align="justify">At a national level, most FIFA member associations<a href="#_ftn3" name="_ftnref3" title="">[3]</a>
have followed the solution adopted in the RWWI and have transposed <i>ad literam </i>the right of intermediaries
to multiparty representation as long as the transparency and information
requirements are met (i.e. any potential conflict of interest is disclosed to
the parties in advance, and subject to the prior written consent of the parties
to the transaction). </p>
<p class="MsoNormal" align="justify">However, there are still many agents that prefer to
operate off-the-radar of organized football and its regulations. For these ‘<i>rogue’ agents</i>, the scenario is different
and the question of the legality of multiparty representation will ultimately
depend on the applicable law chosen by the parties<a href="#_ftn4" name="_ftnref4" title="">[4]</a>.
Based on my personal experience, off-the-radar agents often end up acting
through very rudimentary authorizations subject to the ordinary jurisdiction of
the CAS. For this reason, I chose to dissect in this paper the limits of
multiparty representation according to Swiss law, for based on article XY of
the <a href="http://www.tas-cas.org/en/arbitration/code-procedural-rules.html">CAS
Code of Sports Arbitration</a> it represents the applicable law to ordinary
disputes before the CAS when parties fail to make a particular choice of law.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal" align="justify">The provisions of the contract of brokerage (“<i>contrat de courtage</i>”) in Articles 412-418
of the <a href="https://www.admin.ch/opc/en/classified-compilation/19110009/201704010000/220.pdf">Swiss
Code of Obligations</a> (CO) are of relevance in this regard. The cornerstone
provision concerning <i>conflict of interest</i>
is found in <b>Article 415 CO</b><a href="#_ftn5" name="_ftnref5" title="">[5]</a>
whose English translation reads as follows: </p>
<p class="MsoNormal" align="justify">“<i>Where
the broker acts in the interests of a third party in breach of the contract or
procures a promise of remuneration from such party in circumstances tantamount
to bad faith, he forfeits his right to a fee and to any reimbursement of
expenses</i>”.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal" align="justify">The article differentiates between two non-cumulative
hypothetical situations where the broker (i.e. agent) may be in a position of conflict
of interests. </p>
<ul><li>First:
the broker “<i>Acts in the interest of a
third party <u>in breach of the contract</u></i>”. </li><li>Second:
the broker “<i>Procures a promise of
remuneration from such party <u>in bad faith</u></i>”. </li></ul>
<p class="MsoNormal" align="justify"><b><i>The first hypothesis</i></b> establishes the prohibition of the broker to act in
the interest of a third party if the obligations towards his client are
breached. Accordingly, an agent representing a player is prevented from assisting
the players’ contracting club to negotiate the terms of his employment contract,
as he would be defending irreconcilable interests (i.e. the interest of the
club to pay the lowest salary possible v/ the interest of the player to obtain
the highest possible salary). Conversely, the same agent could be hired by the club
in a different transaction without incurring a conflict of interest with the
player. The condition triggering this first hypothesis will be thus, whether
the agent acting for the third party is in breach of his contractual
obligations. <br></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" align="justify">It is important to note that the published English
translation of the CO differs slightly from the original text of the code<a href="#_ftn6" name="_ftnref6" title="">[6]</a>.
While the English translation refers to the breach of the “<i>contract</i>”, the original French version refers instead to a breach
of the “<i>obligations</i>” which has
obviously a broader scope, covering a wider range of situations than a contract
might include. </p>
<p class="MsoNormal" align="justify">This linguistic difference can be misleading as the
obligations emanating from the CO may go beyond the obligations set forth in a
simple authorization or a brokerage contract. By way of example, think of a
very simple “<i>Authorization</i>” that does
not explicitly prohibit the agent of the player to simultaneously act for the
club. Sticking to literal text of the English translation, one could be tempted
to believe that the agent was not acting in breach of the contract. However, the
same situation seen under the lens of the legal obligations would imply that the
agent could still be infringing the obligation of loyalty and trust stemming
from the CO. </p>
<p class="MsoNormal" align="justify">In view of the above, a correct evaluation of the
first hypothesis will necessarily account for the legal obligations inherent to
the brokerage contract, the scope of which might go beyond the obligations
stipulated in the contract. Amongst these, the obligation of loyalty, the
obligation to safeguard the interest of the client by not entering into conflictive
situations, and the obligation of transparency and information.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal" align="justify"><b><i>The second hypothesis</i></b> covers the prohibition in Swiss law of dual
representation by procuring a promise of payment from third parties to the relationship
broker/principal, if such a promise amounts to bad faith. </p>
<p class="MsoNormal" align="justify">It needs to be underlined that this provision does not
exclude dual payment, but subjects it to a certain limit, i.e. <i>not incurring in bad faith</i>. Delineating
bad faith can turn out to be a difficult task as the concept itself has an inevitable
component of subjectivity and, as opposed to <i>good faith </i>which is legally presumed (cf. Article 3 of the <a href="https://www.admin.ch/opc/fr/classified-compilation/19070042/index.html">Swiss
Civil Code</a>), <i>bad faith</i> must
always be proven by the party claiming it, who ultimately bears the burden of
proof<a href="#_ftn7" name="_ftnref7" title="">[7]</a>.&nbsp; </p><p class="MsoNormal" align="justify">Applied to football agents, it can be safely assumed
that an agent acting in good faith towards his client would necessarily act in
a transparent way and inform his client that he is simultaneously acting for
the other contracting party. Not disclosing such information in the context of
negotiations can serve as indication of bad faith when combined with other
elements. However, to prove the presence of bad faith will still require
sufficient material evidence in order to discharge the burden of proof, since
the simple negligence of the broker would not be sufficient to fall under the
scope of the article.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal" align="justify"><b><i>The consequence</i></b> for a broker (i.e. football agent) infringing the
prohibition of dual representation in he hypotheses described in article 415 CO
is the nullity of the contract and the forfeiture of the right to be
remunerated, or the obligation to reimburse the amounts received if the
infringement is ascertained after the realization of the contract and payment
of the fee (“<i>quod nullum est nullum
producit effectum</i>”). &nbsp;</p>
<p class="MsoNormal" align="justify">With the above premises in mind, a detailed look into
the CAS and the Swiss Federal Tribunal jurisprudence regarding Article 415 CO will
help identifying the scope of the legal obligations of a football agent towards
his client (i.e. club and/or player), as well as the mechanisms used by the
decision-making bodies to determine the existence of bad faith. </p>
<p class="MsoNormal" align="justify">&nbsp;</p>
<p class="MsoListParagraph" align="justify">B)&nbsp;&nbsp;
<b><u>Jurisprudence</u></b>:</p>
<p class="MsoNormal" align="justify">One of the very few CAS cases dealing with Article 415
CO in the context of football agents' relationships with clubs is <a href="http://jurisprudence.tas-cas.org/Shared%20Documents/2988.pdf">the <b>CAS award &nbsp;2012/A/2988 PFC CSKA Sofia v. Loic Bensaid</b></a>.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal" align="justify">In short, the dispute opposed the flagship Bulgarian
football club CSKA Sofia against a French football agent and revolved around
the right of the latter to be remunerated by the club, considering he had acted
simultaneously in representation of the player in the signature of the
employment contract.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal" align="justify">One of the many arguments used by the club in support
of its alleged right not to pay the agent was based on Article 415 CO. The club
asserted that the agent acted in violation of his obligations for having
represented both parties. On the merits, the Sole Arbitrator concluded, nevertheless,
that the agent had fulfilled the obligations of transparency and information as
the Club was aware at all times that the agent also acted for the player and
knew about the existence of the representation contract with the player<a href="#_ftn8" name="_ftnref8" title="">[8]</a>.
The full knowledge and acceptance of the situation impeded the club to contend,
at a later stage, the violation of the duty of loyalty and transparency.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal" align="justify">Secondly, adhering to the grounds of the supporting
FIFA decision, the Sole Arbitrator also remarked that the mandate between the
Agent and the player did not contain any obligation to remunerate the services
of the agent. The prohibition of agents to be remunerated twice for their
services has been traditionally a key element in previous FIFA decisions where
dual representation was at the center of the dispute<a href="#_ftn9" name="_ftnref9" title="">[9]</a>.
This fact possibly led the Sole Arbitrator to also highlight this circumstance when
assessing the behavior of the agent. However, the Sole Arbitrator further
stated that, even if the mandate would have provided for a remuneration in
favor of the agent (<i>quod non</i>), Article
415 CO would still not have been violated as the club failed to discharge the
burden of proof as to the existence of <i>bad
faith</i>, reinforcing with it that dual representation is only forbidden to
the extent the agent acts in bad faith<a href="#_ftn10" name="_ftnref10" title="">[10]</a>.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal" align="justify">This final remark of the Sole Arbitrator is crucial
as it evidences, in my view, that whether the player and the agent agreed upon a
remuneration, remains in the end irrelevant for the evaluation of a possible violation
of Article 415 CO. Indeed, pursuant to the CAS arbitrator’s interpretation of
the article, the agent can be remunerated twice, as it is the disregard of the
obligations inherent to the contract and in particular for the second hypothesis
acting in bad faith that determines compliance with Article 415 CO.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal" align="justify">To better illustrate the irrelevance of the “<i>double remuneration</i>” discussion, think
for a moment of a brokerage contract where there is no explicit reference to
the remuneration. <i>Does such a lacuna in
the contract imply that the brokerage is necessarily, pro bono</i>? The answer
is no, for as a general rule, mandates given in the context of professional
relationships are presumed to be lucrative (see Art. 394(3) CO). That is
precisely the case of football agents when they contract with players or clubs.
This circumstance renders the reference to a remuneration in the contract a
secondary element, or at least not an essential one. The former FIFA PAR (Ed.
2008<a href="#_ftn11" name="_ftnref11" title="">[11]</a>)
followed this <i>ratio legis</i> when explicitly
providing for a default remuneration of 3% of the players’ basic income where
the parties cannot agree on the remuneration. </p>
<p class="MsoNormal" align="justify">Beyond the specific CAS
awards, some decisions of the Swiss Tribunal Federal help getting the full
perspective on dual representation in the context of disputes subject to Swiss
law. Although these do not refer to football agents, the similarities that
exist with real estate and/or corporate brokers allow to derive important
conclusions that can be applied to football agents. </p>
<p class="MsoNormal" align="justify"><i>A
first decision</i> worth mentioning is no<a href="http://www.servat.unibe.ch/dfr/bger/141205_4A_214-2014.html%20and">.<b> 4A_214/2014
of 15 December 2014</b></a>. The case concerned a classic real estate intermediation
where the agent agreed a commission from both the seller and the buyer involved
in the transaction. The agent also failed to inform the seller of the existence
of a better buying offer from a third potential buyer. In this context, after
concluding the deal, the buyer refused to pay the agent, invoking Article 415
CO.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal" align="justify">This case is important because
it reveals the existence of two types of brokerage contracts under Swiss law
(i.e. “<i>courtage de negotiation</i>” and
the “<i>courtage d’indication”)</i>. Whereas in a <i>brokerage
of negotiation</i> the broker is entrusted by his client to negotiate the
conditions of the transaction, in a <i>brokerage
of indication</i>, the broker is simply
called to indicate the possibility to conclude a transaction, with no
negotiation duties involved. Furthermore, according to the doctrine cited
in the decision, both types of contract are treated differently under Article
415 CO.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal" align="justify"><i>In
casu</i>, the Federal Tribunal qualified the contracts signed by the agent with
the buyer and the seller as “<i>courtage de
negotiation</i>” as he was entrusted with conducting all aspects related to the
transaction. The agent was required to obtain the best possible conditions for
his clients (e.g. the best buying and selling price respectively) and this
circumstance directly generated an irremediable conflict of interest (i.e. the
negotiation was either benefitting the financial interests of seller or the
buyer) infringing the obligation of loyalty inherent to the brokerage contracts
with the parties.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal" align="justify">All in all, the Federal
Tribunal rejected the appeal submitted by the real estate agent and confirmed the
nullity of both contracts for violating Article 415 CO. The Federal Tribunal followed
a strict interpretation of Article 415 CO according to which “<i>no one can serve two masters</i>” and thus, dual
representation would only be possible (if so) in simple intermediations where
no negotiation from the broker is required<a href="#_ftn12" name="_ftnref12" title="">[12]</a>, in
other words in “<i>courtage d’indication”</i>. In addition, in this case
the agent also acted in bad faith for failing to disclose the existence of a
more favorable offer to the detriment of the seller.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal" align="justify">The main lesson that can be
learnt from this decision is that Article 415 CO must be interpreted restrictively
and that it has to be distinguished between those intermediation contracts that
imply an <i>active involvement of the agent</i>
(i.e. the agent is contractually required to negotiate the terms of a
transaction for the player and/or the club) and those contracts of
intermediation where <i>the agent is called
to simply indicate the possible opportunity for his client to conclude a deal</i>
with no other involvement in the transaction. In this last case, dual
representation could be allowed for there would be no conflict of interests,
and therefore, no infringement of the obligations under the brokerage contract.
The specific contractual clauses are therefore crucial as they ultimately
reveal the extent of the role assumed by the agent. </p>
<p class="MsoNormal" align="justify"><i>The
second </i>important<i> </i>decision by the SFT
is more recent, no.<b> <u><a href="http://www.servat.unibe.ch/dfr/bger/160304_4A_529-2015.html">4A_529/2015
of 4 March 2016</a></u></b>. The factual background of this dispute is extremely
complex. In brief, the case revolved around the selling and buying of the
shares of a company exploiting a luxurious Hotel located in Switzerland. The
seller and the broker entered into a <i>negotiation
brokerage</i> contract whereby the latter was entrusted to find a buyer of the
company against the payment of remuneration. The principal had to agree with
the final potential buyer. In the end, it was proved that the broker misled the
principal about the true identity of the final buyer (to whom the principal expressly
refused to sell), with whom the broker had also agreed remuneration. On the
basis of these facts, the principal refused to pay the broker.&nbsp; </p>
<p class="MsoNormal" align="justify">The Federal Tribunal confirmed
again that Article 415 CO is always interpreted strictly, and considered that
by allowing the <i>banned</i> buyer to indirectly
acquire the company, the broker acted <i>in
the interest of a third party against the obligation of loyalty</i>. What is most
significant about this decision is that the court delimitates very clearly the scope
of the obligation of loyalty. It is described as a double-edged sword, implying
on the one side: <i>a positive obligation</i>
consisting of actively safeguarding and defending the interest of the principal;
and on the other side: <i>a negative
obligation</i>, consisting of abstaining from any conduct that could harm the
interests of the client.&nbsp;&nbsp; </p>
<p class="MsoNormal" align="justify">In particular, the fact
that the principal had not objected to a previous e-mail sent by the broker
where he expressly indicated that the potential buyer was “<i>C or any company indicated by it</i>” was also irrelevant for the
principal could not expect in ‘<i>good faith</i>’
that the buyer would make use of this substitution prerogative in favor of the
real buyer. The arguments of the broker according to which it was not important
for the principal to know who the buyer was and that he suffered no damage,
were also dismissed.&nbsp; &nbsp;</p>
<p class="MsoNormal" align="justify">Finally, the argument of
the broker according to which the remuneration to be received from the buyer was
agreed after the transaction took place was also irrelevant in the eyes of the
court. </p>
<p class="MsoNormal" align="justify">With these cases in mind, when
applying the holding of the SFT above to football agents' professional relationships,
it follows that the scope of the obligation of loyalty will be significantly
wider for football agents entrusted with negotiations than for agents simply tasked
with identifying possible opportunities to close a deal. </p>
<p class="MsoNormal" align="justify">Likewise, in order to
determine the existence of a violation of the obligations assumed by the agent,
it will not be enough to demonstrate that there has been no threat to the
interests of the client or that the agent has not actively engaged in a conduct
against those interests. Indeed, a simple passive conduct with the potential of
jeopardizing the interests of the principal, such as failing to disclose
relevant information, can be sufficient to violate the obligation of loyalty
and deprive the agent from the right to be remunerated. </p>
<p class="MsoNormal" align="justify">To this effect, the correct
identification of the interest pursued by the client will ultimately determine
the infringement by the agent of his obligations under the representation
contract. In the end, the agent will only violate his obligation of loyalty as
long as his behavior damages the interests of his client. These interests will
vary depending on whether the principal is a football club or a player. If a
club is trying to transfer or recruit a player, the interests will in most
cases be of a financial nature. If instead, the principal is a football player
terminating or signing a contract with a club, he might have non-economic
interests (e.g. willing to play in a different championship, lack of
integration of the family in the country etc.). Furthermore, the moment in
which the remuneration is agreed is not relevant to establish the violation of
the obligation of loyalty.</p><p class="MsoNormal" align="justify"><br></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" align="justify">In conclusion, the contract
of representation and its clauses in combination with the particular
circumstances of each case will be fundamental to establish compliance with Article
415 CO when multiple representation takes place.&nbsp;&nbsp; Football agents pretending to be remunerated
by both contracting parties simultaneously without risking to violate their
obligations must either enter into simple brokerage contracts with no negotiation
attributions, or, when acting through a negotiation brokerage, always inform
all parties in complete transparency.&nbsp; </p>
<p class="MsoNormal" align="justify">&nbsp;</p><p align="justify"><br clear="all">
</p><hr align="justify" size="1" width="33%">
<p id="ftn1" align="justify">
</p><p class="MsoFootnoteText" align="justify"><a href="#_ftnref1" name="_ftn1" title="">[1]</a> See Article 19.8
FIFA PAR. </p>
<p align="justify"></p>
<p id="ftn2" align="justify">
</p><p align="justify"><a href="#_ftnref2" name="_ftn2" title=""><i><b>[2]</b></i></a><i> “Definition of an intermediary </i></p>
<p align="justify"><i>A natural or legal person
who, for a fee or free of charge, <u>represents players and/or club</u>s in
negotiations with a view to concluding an employment contract or represents
clubs in negotiations with a view to concluding a transfer agreement.”
[Emphasis added]</i></p>
<p align="justify"></p>
<p id="ftn3" align="justify">
</p><p class="MsoFootnoteText" align="justify"><a href="#_ftnref3" name="_ftn3" title="">[3]</a> Only the FFF (France),
the RFU (RUSSIA), the BFU (Bulgaria) the JFA (Japan) have explicitly adopted
stricter rules prohibiting any conflict of interest. See Comparative Table of “<i>The FIFA Regulations on Working with
Intermediaries Implementation at a national level</i>” (Ed. Michele Colucci).</p>
<p align="justify"></p>
<p id="ftn4" align="justify">
</p><p class="MsoFootnoteText" align="justify"><a href="#_ftnref4" name="_ftn4" title="">[4]</a> E.g. Arbitrage
<a href="http://jurisprudence.tas-cas.org/Shared%20Documents/1310.pdf">TAS
2007/O/1310</a> Bruno Heiderscheid c. Franck Ribéry.</p>
<p align="justify"></p>
<p id="ftn5" align="justify">
</p><p class="MsoFootnoteText" align="justify"><a href="#_ftnref5" name="_ftn5" title="">[5]</a> See article R45 of the
CAS Code (ed. 2017).</p>
<p align="justify"></p>
<p id="ftn6" align="justify">
</p><p class="MsoFootnoteText" align="justify"><a href="#_ftnref6" name="_ftn6" title="">[6]</a> Art. 415. <i>III. Déchéance:</i></p>
<p align="justify"><i>“Le
courtier perd son droit au salaire et au remboursement de ses dépenses, s'il
agit dans l'intérêt du tiers contractant <b><u>au
mépris de ses obligations</u></b>, ou s'il se fait promettre par lui une
rémunération dans des circonstances où les règles de la bonne foi s'y
opposaient.”</i></p>
<p class="MsoFootnoteText" align="justify"><a href="https://www.admin.ch/opc/fr/classified-compilation/19110009/index.html">https://www.admin.ch/opc/fr/classified-compilation/19110009/index.html</a> </p>
<p align="justify"></p>
<p id="ftn7" align="justify">
</p><p class="MsoNormal" align="justify"><a href="#_ftnref7" name="_ftn7" title="">[7]</a> See. Decision of the SFT 131 III 511 para. 3.2.2 of&nbsp; <a href="http://relevancy.bger.ch/php/clir/http/index.php?highlight_docid=atf%3A%2F%2F131-III-511%3Ade&amp;lang=de&amp;type=show_document">http://relevancy.bger.ch/php/clir/http/index.php?highlight_docid=atf%3A%2F%2F131-III-511%3Ade&amp;lang=de&amp;type=show_document</a>
</p>
<p align="justify"></p>
<p id="ftn8" align="justify">
</p><p class="MsoFootnoteText" align="justify"><a href="#_ftnref8" name="_ftn8" title="">[8]</a> See para. 118.</p>
<p align="justify"></p>
<p id="ftn9" align="justify">
</p><p class="MsoFootnoteText" align="justify"><a href="#_ftnref9" name="_ftn9" title="">[9]</a> E.g. <b><a href="http://resources.fifa.com/mm/document/affederation/administration/agentdispute/1121835.pdf">Decision
of the Single Judge of the PSC of 12 January 2012</a>:</b> “<i>12. In view of the above, the Single Judge
formed the view that, although the Claimant appears to have represented the
Respondent and the player in the same transaction, the documentary evidence
contained in the file clearly demonstrates that the Claimant could not have
possibly been remunerated twice for his services. Consequently, and in
accordance with the general principles of bona fide and pacta sunt servanda the
Single Judge decided that the Respondent must fulfill the obligation it
voluntarily entered into with the Claimant by means of the representation
agreement concluded between the parties, and therefore, the Respondent must pay
the Claimant for the services he rendered in connection with the transfer of
the player to the Respondent.” </i></p>
<p align="justify"></p>
<p id="ftn10" align="justify">
</p><p class="MsoFootnoteText" align="justify"><a href="#_ftnref10" name="_ftn10" title="">[10]</a> See also para. 118.</p>
<p align="justify"></p>
<p id="ftn11" align="justify">
</p><p class="MsoFootnoteText" align="justify"><a href="#_ftnref11" name="_ftn11" title="">[11]</a> See i.c. article 20 para.
4 FIFA PAR (ed. 2008).</p>
<p align="justify"></p>
<p id="ftn12" align="justify">
</p><p class="MsoFootnoteText" align="justify"><a href="#_ftnref12" name="_ftn12" title="">[12]</a> See para. 1.1.3 of the
SFT decision. An example of a <i>courtage d’indication</i> would be the
brokerage of insurances, where the broker, acting for the policy-holder, is
paid instead, by the insurance company.</p>
<p></p>
<p></p>
http://www.asser.nl/SportsLaw/Blog/post/the-limits-to-multiple-representation-by-football-intermediaries-under-fifa-rules-and-swiss-law-by-josep-f-vandellos-alamilla
http://www.asser.nl/SportsLaw/Blog/post/the-limits-to-multiple-representation-by-football-intermediaries-under-fifa-rules-and-swiss-law-by-josep-f-vandellos-alamilla#commenthttp://www.asser.nl/SportsLaw/Blog/post.aspx?id=133279fe-c74e-4b36-9f96-b184baad2997Wed, 11 Oct 2017 18:10:00 +0200BlogInternational Sports Law CasesInternational Sports Law CommentariesInternational Sports Law PublicationsAntoine Duvalhttp://www.asser.nl/SportsLaw/Blog/pingback.axdhttp://www.asser.nl/SportsLaw/Blog/post.aspx?id=133279fe-c74e-4b36-9f96-b184baad29970http://www.asser.nl/SportsLaw/Blog/trackback.axd?id=133279fe-c74e-4b36-9f96-b184baad2997http://www.asser.nl/SportsLaw/Blog/post/the-limits-to-multiple-representation-by-football-intermediaries-under-fifa-rules-and-swiss-law-by-josep-f-vandellos-alamilla#commenthttp://www.asser.nl/SportsLaw/Blog/syndication.axd?post=133279fe-c74e-4b36-9f96-b184baad2997